« 


JAMES   M.  BROWN 

.Col  100*1'  N.Y.S.Vols. 


HISTORY 


ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT 


NEW  YORK  STATE  VOLUNTEERS: 


A  RECORD  OF  ITS  SERVICES  FROM  ITS  MUSTER  IN  TO  ITS  MUSTER 
OUT;    ITS    MUSTER    IN    ROLL,    ROLL    OF    COMMISSIONS,    RE 
CRUITS  FURNISHED  THROUGH  THE  BOARD  OF  TRADE  OF 
THE  CITY  OF  BUFFALO,  AND  SHORT  SKETCHES  OF 
DECEASED  AND  SURVIVING  OFFICERS. 


BY  GEO.  H. 

Late  Major  One  Hundredth  New  York  State  Volunteers 


BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 
PRINTING  HOUSE  OF  MATTHEWS  &  WARREN 

' '  Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser. ' ' 
1870. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1870, 

BY  GEORGE  H.  STOWITS, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


TO 


WILLIAM  WILKESON",  ESQ., 

FRIEND   OP   THE   ONE   HUNDREDTH   REGIMENT    IN   ITS   TIME   OF 

NEED,   IS    THIS  VOLUME    RESPECTFULLY    INSCRIBED,   FOR 

SERVICES    RENDERED   THE    REGIMENT    IN    ITS 

ORGANIZATION, 


BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


M134606 


PREFACE. 


Months  and  years  have  elapsed  since  we  separated  as 
members  of  the  "  Grand  Army,"  engaged  in  that  sublime 
and  holy  work  of  preserving  the*  unity  of  the  best  and 
freest  government  in  this  or  any  other  age.  Whatever 
of  personal  feeling,  either  toward  our  superior  officers  or 
comrades  in  arms,  once  held  sway  in  our  hearts,  now  has 
gone,  stifled  by  the  judgment  of  deliberate  thought  and 
cooler  emotions.  At  this  date,  remote  from  the  stirring 
and  exciting  events  of  camp,  field,  bivouac  and  trench,  it 
is  with  effort  that  we  force  the  facts  clearly  to  mind,  that 
we  were  actors  in  that  bloody  drama  so  recently  closed, 
and  that  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  with  conscious 
pride  it  can  be  said,  performed  its  share  of  active,  effec 
tive  and  honorable  service  as  a  constituent  element  of  the 
conquering  loyal  army  of  the  republic. 

At  no  time,  when  in  service,  nor  since,  had  we  thought 
of  writing  a  history  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment. 
It  was  long  before  we  could  consent  to  undertake  the 
work.  We  knew  that  no  reliable  records  existed,  and 


vi  Preface. 

those  carefully  kept  by  Surg.  Kittcngcr,  together  with 
regimental  and  company  baggage,  were  sunk  with  trans 
port  at  Fortress  Monroe,  during  our  last  campaign  before 
Richmond,  and  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Lee. 

From  private  diaries,  newspapers  and  personal  experi 
ences,  we  have  been  enabled  to  trace  the  career  of  the 
regiment  through  its  eventful  term  of  service.  We  do 
not  claim  positive  accuracy.  Names  and  dates  of  the 
dead,  wounded  and  missing,  their  sufferings  and  personal 
incidents,  are  not  detailed,  for  want  of  reliable  authority. 
A  complete  history  of  the  regiment  cannot  be  written. 
Its  fractional  elements,  and  their  diverse  characteristics 
make  it  impossible.  The  original  men,  its  additions 
through  the  Board  of  Trade,  conscripts,  substitutes,  and 
finally  its  consolidation  with  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
eighth  and  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth  New  York 
State  Volunteers,  found  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  at 
its  muster  out,  not  the  regiment  that  left  Buffalo,  March 
7th,  1862,  for  the  seat  of  war. 

The  general  reader  will  find  a  connected  detail  of 
most  of  the  events  connected  with  the  history  of  Sumter, 
from  its  first  bombardment,  in  1861,  to  its  re-possession 
by  the  government  in  1865 ;  also  a  biographical  sketch 
of  every  officer  killed  and  dying  of  wounds,  and  of  those 
who  have  died  since  the  war,  that  belonged  to  the  One 
Hundredth  Regiment ;  and  a  short  notice  of  the  Board 
of  Trade,  and  a  sketch  of  its  President,  during  the  time 
the  One  Hundredth  was  under  its  fostering  care. 

To  the  Committee  in  charge  of  the  work,  Maj.  Daniel 


Preface.  vii 

D.  Nash,  Lieut,  Col.  Charles  E.  Walbridge,  Capt.  Oscar 
F.  Richards,  and  Lieut.  Alfred  Lythe,  our  thanks  are 
due  for  sympathy  and  encouragement;  to  Gen.  G.  A. 
Scroggs,  for  facts  relative  to  the  organization  of  the  regi 
ment  ;  to  Bvt.  Brig.  Gen.  C.  X.  Otis,  for  diaries  during  his 
service  as  major  and  lieutenant  colonel;  to  G.  S.  Hazard, 
for  statistics  of  recruits  furnished  as  president  of  the  Board 
of  Trade ;  to  Mrs.  Phineas  Staunton,  wife  of  the  late 
Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  for  her  husband's 
diary,  and  other  valuable  papers ;  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  War 
ren  Granger,  for  a  collection  of  newspaper  notices  and 
communications,  orderly  arranged  in  a  scrap  book;  to 
Billa  M.  Judson,  regimental  clerk,  who,  in  his  thought- 
fulness,  had  preserved  many  valuable  papers  and  orders, 
which  have  been  of  invaluable  service ;  to  Lieut.  Col.  L. 
S.  Payne,  for  facts  of  individual  services  as  the  scout  of  the 
regiment ;  to  W.  W.  H.  Davis,  Colonel  of  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  for  his  cheerful 
assent  for  the  use  of  facts,  dates  and  description  of  local 
ities  from  a  history  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  written  by  the  Colonel,  who 
commanded  the  Brigade,  at  times,  to  which  the  One 
Hundredth  and  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  were  attached, 
affording  him  superior  facilities  for  information  denied  a 
subordinate  officer.  The  Colonel  will  please  accept  the 
gratitude  of  the  author,  and  the  same  is  tendered  to  all 
here  mentioned,  as  well  as  others  for  valuable  aid  ren 
dered  in  the  prosecution  of  this  work. 

We  are  conscious  of  our  inability  to  do  full  justice  to 


viii  Preface. 

the  heroism,  sufferings  and  incessant  duty  of  the  mem 
bers  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment.  Its  slain  heroes, 
the  records  of  its  battle  fields,  and  its  constant  place  at 
the  front,  all  are  parts  of  its  history,  and  well  may  the 
city  of  Buffalo  accord  its  meed  of  praise  to  its  officers 
and  men  for  services  faithfully  and  heroically  performed. 
With  these  words  we  give  our  labors  to  the  public, 
hoping  that  the  story  of  the  regiment,  simply  told,  will 
add  some  little  to  the  histories  of  regiments  that  saved  a 
Nation  and  honored  a  grateful  people. 

GEO.  H.  STOWITS. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


COL.  JAMES  M.  BROWN. 
LIEUT.  COL.  PHINEAS  STAUNTON. 
BREVET  BRIG.  GEN.  CALVIN  K  OTIS. 
BRIG.  GEN.  GUSTAVUS  A.  SCROGGS. 
LIEUT.  COL.  LEWIS  S.  PAYNE. 
GEORGE  S.  HAZARD. 
MAJ.  DANIEL  D.  NASH. 
LIEUT.  COL.  CHARLES  E.  WALBRIDGE. 
LIEUT.  AND  BREVET  COL.  WARREN  GRANGER,  Jr. 
MAJ.  GEORGE  H.  STOWITS. 
LIEUT.  AND  BREVET  CAPT.  JOHN  WILKESON,  Jr. 
LIEUT.  SAMUEL  S.  KELLOGG. 
LIEUT.  AND  BREVET  CAPT.  GEORGE  G.  BARNUM. 
CAPT.  OSCAR  F.  RICHARDS. 
LIEUT.  ALFRED  LYTHE. 
LIEUT.  RODNEY  B.  SMITH,  Jr. 

CAMP  ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT,  GLOUCESTER  POINT,  VA. 
CAMP  ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT,  MORRIS  ISLAND,  S.  C. 
1* 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE. 

Order  of  the  War  Department  to  Gen.  G.  A.  Scroggs.  —  Num 
ber  of  men  recruited  for  the  "  Eagle  Brigade."—  Statement 
of  Adjt.  Gen.  Stonehouse.  —  Nomination  of  Gen  Scroggs  for 
Brigadier  General.—  Origin  of  the  One  Hundredth"  Regi 
ment,  ................................................  25 

CHAPTER  II. 

Orders  for  Recruiting.—  Capt.  D.  D.  Nash  raised  first  com 
pany.—  Gloomy  prospects  for  recruiting.—  Liabilities  of 
Gen.  Scroggs.—  Aid  of  William  Wilkeson,  Esq.—  Scroggs 
relieved.  —  Camp  Morgan  established.  —  Necessary  buildings 
provided.—  Regiment  raised  and  named  the  One  Hundredth. 
—  Donations  and  Camp  Incidents.  —  Ordejs  to  leave  ex- 


CHAPTER  III. 

Marching  Orders.—  Broke  Camp.—  Left  for  Albany.—  Arrival 
and  departure  for  New  York.—  Passed  through  Philadelphia 
and  Baltimore,  and  arrival  at  Washington.—  In  Camp  at 
Meridian  Hill.—  Ordered  to  Fortress  Monroe  by  the  way  of 
Alexandria.—  Arrival  at  Newport  News,  .................  35 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Arrival  at  Newport  News.—  Encamped.—  Changed  Camp.— 
Rain  and  discomfort—  Arrival  of  Gen.  McClellan.—  Army 
moves  forward.—  Reaches  Warwick  Court  House.—  Siege  of 
Yorktown  commences.  —  Works  too  strong  to  be  assaulted. 
—  Gen.  Naglee  in  command  of  Brigade.  —  He  makes  an 


xii  Contents. 

PAGE. 

Armed    Reconnoissance.— Troops   behaved  well.— Naglee 
led  the  charge  in  person, 41 

CHAPTER  V. 

Batteries  nearly  completed.— Enemy  evacuate  Yorktown.— 
Retreat  toward  Williamsburg.— Gen.  McClellan  pursues.— 
Battle  of  Williamsburg.— The  Troops  march  through  the 
town. — Pursuit  continues. — Reached  New  Kent  Court 
House.— Rain,  Mud  and  Short  Rations  are  the  sufferings  of 
the  Army.— Arrive  near  the  York  River  Railroad,  eighteen 
miles  from  Richmond, 48 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Marched  near  to  Bottom's  Bridge,  twelve  miles  from  Richmond. 
—Crossed  the  Chickahominy.— Col.  Brown  sick.— Weather 
very  warm  and  showery. — Skirmish  at  Savage's  Station. — 
Pickets  within  five  miles  of  Richmond.— Casey's  Division 
encamped  at  Seven  Pines.— Pickets  attacked  by  Rebels. 
—They  were  driven  back.— Severe  storm.— The  approaching 
battle  of  the  31st  of  May, 55 

.     CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Soldier's  first  battle —Its  effect  upon  him.— Its  results.— 
The  position  of  Casey's  Division.— The  signal  of  the  Enemy 
to  open  the  Fight.— The  Charge  of  Naglee's  Brigade.— The 
One  Hundredth  on  the  left  of  Richmond  road.— Its  Charge 
through  the  Slashing.— The  loss  of  Col.  Brown,  Lieuts. 
Wilkeson  and  Kellogg.  —  The  backward  movement. - 
Encamped  one  and  a  half  miles  in  the  rear  of  former 
camp, 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  conduct  of  Gen.  Casey's  Division,  as  given  by  Col.  Davis 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania.— Its  repu 
tation  sustained.— Its  losses  prove  its  bravery.— The  long 
hours  it  held  the  enemy  in  check  shows  its  stubborn  cour 
age.— Its  defeat  by  overwhelming  numbers.— The  conduct 


Contents.  xiii 

PAGE. 

of  Gens.  Casey  and  Naglee. — Their  bravery  and  enthusiasm. 
—The  Battle  Field.— The  Burial  of  the  Dead  and  care  of 
the  Wounded, C7 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  Rebels  attack  the  "  Excelsior  Brigade."— Gen.  McClellan 
visits  the  Troops. — Brigade  Inspection. — Weather  rainy 
and  cold. — A  rear  movement  commenced. — Raid  of  the 
Rebels. — Battle  of  Oak  Grove. — Battle  of  Mechanicsville. — 
Battle  of  Games'  Farm. — McClellan  changes  base  to 
James  River. — Gen.  Naglee  in  command  of  Rear-guard. — 
The  retreat  commenced. — Bridge  destroyed. — The  Rebels 
in  pursuit, 73 

CHAPTER  X. 

Sick  and  Wounded  left  at  Savage's  Station  by  order  of  Gen. 
McClellan. — The  Army  had  changed  front  and  was  still 
moving  to  James  River. — Surgeon  Kittenger  left  with  the 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner. — Gen.  Naglee  still  holds 
position  in  command  of  the  Rear-guard. — Rebels  in  pur 
suit — They  attempt  to  Storm  the  National  Batteries  on 
Malvern  Hills. — They  are  repulsed  with  terrible  loss, 80 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Gen.  McClellan  visits  the  Troops. — Naglee's  Brigade  received 
him  in  silence. — Men  engaged  upon  works  of  defence. — 
President  Lincoln  announced  to  visit  Troops. — Failed 
to  come. — Sent  regrets. — Communication  from  Common 
Council  of  Buffalo. — Drilling  and  fatigue  duty. — Rebels 
appeared  on  opposite  side  of  river. — Soon  driven  away. 
— Gen.  Hooker  sent  to  Malvern  Hills. — Army  ordered  to 
move. — Movement  began. — Board  of  Trade  of  Buffalo 
adopts  the  Regiment, 8G 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  return  march  still  continues. — Knapsacks  on  Canal  Boat 
sunk. — Fished  out,  but  spoiled. — Moved  through  Williams- 
burg. — Halted  and  mustered  the  Army. — Arrival  at  York- 


xiv  Contents. 

PAGE. 

town.— Ordered  to  Gloucester  Point.— Capt.  Morse  with 
Recruits  from  Buffalo.— One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsyl 
vania  within  the  Fort.— One  Hundredth  New  York  en 
camped  without  the  Fort.— Col.  Staunton  in  charge  of 
Working  Parties.— Col.  Davis  on  a  Reconnoissance, 93 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  results  of  the  Peninsula  Campaign.— Call  for  Three 
Hundred  Thousand  Men  for  the  War.— Three  Hundred 
Thousand  for  Nine  Months.— A  Draft  of  an  equal  number. 
—Board  of  Trade  of  Buffalo  send  Recruits.— Col.  G.  B. 
Dandy  appointed  Colonel.— Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  sends  in 
his  Resignation.— War  Meetings  in  Buffalo.— Action  of  Pub 
lic  School  Teachers.— Order  of  Supt.  Sackett  to  prepare 
lint.— A  Whiskey  Mutiny  in  Camp.— It  was  quelled,  and 
the  "  Little  Disturber  "  issued, 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  men  stole  a  Barrel  of  Whiskey.— Rumor  of  a  Raid  on 
Williamsburg.— Regiment  under  arms.— Col.  Dandy  ar 
rived  and  assumed  command.— Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  Re 
signed  and  left  for  the  North.— Recruits  arriving.— Lieuts. 
Greiner  and  Guthrie  discharged.— Drills  and  Reviews.— 
Change  of  Camp.— The  Sibley  Tent.— Chaplain  Linn  ar 
rived  with  Flag  from  Board  of  Trade.— Raid  to  Gloucester 
Court  House  under  command  of  Gen.  Naglee, 105 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Rumors  of  leaving  Gloucester  Point.— The  necessary  pro 
motions  made.— The  Camp  at  Gloucester  Point,— Arrival 
and  visit  of  Warren  Granger,  Esq.,  from  Buffalo.— Arrival 
of  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth  Pennsylvania.— False 
alarms.— Brigade  has  Marching  Orders.— Shipped  with 
Sealed  Orders.— Arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe.— Left  and  An 
chored  at  Beaufort,  North  Carolina.— Encamped  at  Carolina 
City.— Col.  Davis  in  command  of  Brigade.— Gen.  Naglee  in 
command  of  Division— Drill  and  preparation  for  a  move 
somewhere, 


Contents.  xv 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

PAGE. 

Col.  Dandy  resumed  command. — Drills  continued. — Troops 
ordered  to  embark. — Transports  in  waiting. — Tents  struck 
January  19th,  1863. — Embarked. — Lay  at  anchor  till  Jan 
uary  29th. — Sailed  southward. — Orders  opened  off  Wil 
mington. — Destination  Port  Royal,  South  Carolina. — An 
chored  at  Port  Royal,  between  Forts  Seward  and  Wells. — 
Troops  kept  on  board  Transports  for  some  days. — Went 
ashore  for  air  and  exercise. — Fatigue  Party  sent  ashore  to 
dig  wells  and  prepare  for  pitching  camp, 119 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Gen.  Naglee's  Letter  and  General  Order  to  the  Board  of  Trade 
of  the  City  of  Buffalo. — The  Names  the  General  recom 
mended  to  be  placed  upon  their  Flags. — His  rehearsal  of 
their  Services. — His  final  cheering  words  for  their  future 
welfare. — The  Regiment  ashore  at  St.  Helena,  S.  C. — Pitch 
ing  camp,  digging  wells  and  washing. — Some  difficulty 
with  the  Negroes. — Cabins  burned. — The  work  of  a  few 
restless  spirits, 125 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Camp  on  St.  Helena  removed  one  and  a  half  miles. — Camp 
pitched,  cleared  and  regularly  laid  out. — The  Island  of 
St.  Helena. — Absence  of  Stones.— Locality  of  Camp. — Ar 
rival  of  Mail. — Its  influences  upon  the  Men. — Drills,  inspec 
tions  and  reviews.— Gen.  Naglee  reviews  two  Brigades. — 
Good  rations,  beef  and  bread. — Difficulty  between  Gens. 
Foster,  Naglee  and  Hunter. — Strife  settled  by  Adjt.  Gen. 
Thomas. — Gen.  Naglee  ordered  North  to  report  to  the 
War  Office.— His  farewells, 130 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Gen.  Naglee's  farewell  order. — St.  Helena  Island,  its  beauty, 
fertility,  and  position. — Grand  Review  by  Gen.  Hunter. — 
Company,  battalion  and  brigade  drills. — Rigid  inspections. 
— Exercise  in  landing  from  Transports. — Ignorance  of  the 
common  soldier  of  coming  events. — Col.  Dandy's  Special 


xvi  Content*. 

PAGE. 

Order  to  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  N.  Y.  V—  March 
ing  Orders.— The  process  of  arrests,  and  their  disposition. 
—The  washing  days  of  a  Regiment, 136 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Regiment  struck  tents  on  St.  Helena,  and  marched  to  Trans 
port  Expounder.— Embarked.— Disembarked  at  Hilton 
Head.— Changed  Guns.— Embarked.— Sailed  for  Stono  In 
let—Aground  on  a  bar.— Crossed  safely.— Encamped  on 
Cole's  Island.— Unsupported  for  several  days.— Troops  ar 
rived.— Landed  on  Folly  Island.— Skirmished  and  scouted 
the  entire  Island.— The  difficulties,  sufferings  and  delays  of 
the  campaign,". 14^ 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  Siege  of  Charleston.— Fort  Sumter.— Its  first  reduction. 
Its  reinforcement.— The  leaving  of  the  women  and  chil 
dren.— The  activity  of  the  National  Government.— The  base 
of  operations  at  Port  Royal— Former  reduction  of  all  the 
Forts  and  Towns  along  the  coast— Desertion  of  Beaufort. 
—Expeditions  to  Stono  River  and  James  Island.— Rebel 
Fortifications.— Fort  Sumter  to  be  reduced, 148 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Preparations  for  the  attack  upon  Charleston  by  both  Army 
and  Navy.— The  defences  of  the  City  of  Charleston.— The 
Obstructions  in  the  Channel.— The  position  of  Troops  at 
the  north  end  of  Folly  Island.-April  7th,  the  Navy  move 
up  to  attack  Sumter.— Bombardment  continues  one  hour  and 
forty  minutes.— Keokuk  lost,  Fleet  withdrawn.— Number  of 
Guns  and  their  character.— The  small  loss  of  the  Ironclads,  154 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

The  Night  after  the  Bombardment— The  One  Hundredth 
Regiment  relieved.— A  Battery  planted.— Sixty  Rebels  sweep 
around  the  head  of  the  Island.— Battery  withdrawn.— One 
Hundredth  ordered  to  Cole's  Island.— Landed  on  Cole's  Is- 


Contents.  xvii 

PAGE. 

land. — Ordered  to  Folly  Island. — Went  into  Camp. — A  view 
of  the  situation. — Position  of  Troops. — A  description  of 
Beaufort,  the  Newport  of  the  South, 162 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Regiment  pitched  Camp  on  Folly  Island. — Paymaster  arrived. 
— Paid  troops  for  six  months. — Chaplain  Linn  went  North. 
— Camp  moved. — Roads  were  constructed. — Co.  "  H  "  de 
tached  to  Pawnee  Landing. — Promotions  made. — Picket, 
fatigue,  drills  and  inspections  continued. — Weather  very 
warm. — Co. "  C  "  detached  to  south  end  of  the  Island. — Gen. 
Gilmore  succeeds  Gen.  Hunter. — Active  operations  ex 
pected,  168 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Batteries  to  be  constructed  on  the  north  end  of  Folly  Island. 
— The  condition  of  the  Island  when  first  visited.— The  good 
health  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment. — A  visit  to  Beau 
fort. — The  Raid  of  Col.  Montgomery  with  Negro  Troops. — 
The  great  changes  in  public  sentiment  since  the  opening 
of  the  war. — Weather  warm.— The  Resignation  of  Lieut. 
Col.  Otis. — His  honorable  discharge. — Companies  detailed 
alternately  at  the  head  of  the  Island. — Rebels  shell  the 
Island, 174 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Prosecution  of  the  works  at  the  north  end  of  the  Island. — 
Resignations. — Completion  of  Batteries,  3d  July. — All 
Troops  available  sent  to  Folly  Island.— Time  fixed  for 
opening  the  10th  July. —  Capt.  Payne,  the  Scout. — Gen. 
Strong  in  command  of  the  Assaulting  Troops. — Gen.  Sey 
mour  in  command  of  Batteries. — Batteries  opened. — Rebels 
fled. — Prisoners  taken. — Three-fourths  of  the  Island  taken.  * 
— Fort  Wagner  assaulted,  July  llth. — A  repulse. — Troops 
intrench, 182 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Gen.  Gilmore's  Congratulatory  Order  to  the  Troops. — Special 
mention  of  Gens.  Strong  and  Seymour. — Capt.  L.  S.  Payne. 


xviii  Contents. 

PAGE. 

—A  second  assault  to  be  made  on  Wagner.— Batteries 
brought  from  Folly  and  planted  before  Wagner. — Other 
Troops  ordered  on  to  Morris  Island. — Severe  fatigue  and 
dangerous  picketing.— July  18th,  at  the  edge  of  evening, 
the  assault  to  be  made. — The  Ironclads  to  assist. — Brigades 
of  Seymour,  Putnam  and  Strong. — Strong  led  the  advance. 
— The  Bombardment  continued  all  day. — At  night  the 
Troops  assaulted  and  were  repulsed, 190 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

The  Repulse  at  Fort  Wagner. — The  Killed  and  Wounded. — 
Col.  Dandy's  Letter  to  the  Board  of  Trade. — The  Bravery 
of  the  Assaulting  Columns.— The  Island  to  be  held.— Folly 
Island  the  base  of  supplies. — Troops  encamped  at  the  south 
end  of  Morris. — The  erection  of  works  commenced. — The 
"Left  Batteries." — The  Batteries  at  the  first  and  second 
parallels.— The  Swamp  Angel,  its  construction,  cost  and 
use, 198 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Commands  changed  since  the  charge  on  Wagner. — Details 
sent  North  for  Conscripts  and  Recruits. — The  large  increase 
of  Sick  on  the  Island. — The  Siege  prosecuted  with  vigor. — 
Reinforcements  arrive  from  the  North. — Folly  Island  one 
vast  Camp. — A  Boat  Infantry  established. — Capt.  Payne, 
the  Scout,  taken  prisoner. — Christian  and  Sanitary  Commis 
sions. — Surgeon  Kittenger  and  his  course  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties, 206 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Gilmore's  Land  Batteries  opened  on  Sumter  August  17th  — 
The  Ironclads  assisted. — The  Bombardment  closed  on  the 
23d. — Sumter  was  pronounced  useless  for  offensive  opera 
tions. — The  Siege  continued.— The  third,  fourth  and  fifth 
Parallels  were  opened. — The  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts 
Drove  in  the  Enemy's  Pickets. — The  Sufferings  and  Casual 
ties  among  the  men.— An  expedition  against  Battery  Gregg. 
— It  was  unsuccessful, 214 


Contents.  xix 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

PAGE. 

A  third  assault  on  Wagner  was  ordered. — The  Rebels  had 
evacuated. — The  Forts  and  Island  ours. — The  Forts  to  be 
rebuilt. — Gen.  Gilmore  congratulates  in  General  Orders. — 
He  is  commissioned  as  Major  General. — Details  for  duty  on 
picket  and  fatigue  are  constant  and  regular. — Weather 
cool  and  disagreeable. — Arrival  of  Recruits. — The  usual 
routine  of  camp  duties, 221 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Regiment  still  on  Morris  Island. — Major  D.  D.  Nash  returned 
to  Regiment,— Batteries  open  on  Charleston.— Execution  of 
a  Deserter. — Words  about  Negro  Troops. — Their  morale 
and  merit  as  soldiers.— Deserters  from  Charleston.— Depar 
ture  of  Col.  Dandy  and  Recruiting  Party  for  Buffalo.— Re- 
enlisted  Veterans  arrived.— Their  Reception  by  the  Ladies 
of  the  Great  Central  Fair,  Mayor,  Military  and  Citizens,. . .  228 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

The  Spring  Campaign  of  1864.— Transfer  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  Regiment  from  Morris  Island  to  Gloucester  Point— 
The  relation  of  successive  events  in  the  history  of  Sumter 
till  its  restoration  by  the  Government.— The  state  and  con 
dition  of  Charleston.— The  Quenching  of  Fires  by  our  Sol 
diery.— The  Retreat  of  Gen.  Hardee's  Army, 236 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Closing  of  the  Recruiting  Office  at  Buffalo.— The  Regiment  or 
dered  from  Morris  Island  to  Gloucester  Point.— Prepara 
tions  for  a  Summer  Campaign.— Embarked  on  Transports. 
—Landing  at  Bermuda  Hundred.— Gen.  Butler  in  com 
mand.— Marched  to  the  Petersburg  and  Richmond  Rail 
road.— Fought  the  Enemy,  tore  up  the  Railroad  and  des 
troyed  the  Telegraph, 243 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

The  Fight  at  Walthall  Junction.— The  Report  of  Col.  G.  B. 
Dandy  and  favorable  mention  of  officers  and  men. — The 


xx  Contents. 

PAGE. 

adroit  movements  of  Gen.  Butler  on  City  Point  and  Ber 
muda  Hundred. — The  building  of  works  from  the  James  to 
the  Appomattox  —  The  advance  on  the  12th  and  13th  of 
May.— The  taking  of  one  of  the  outer  Forts  of  the  works  at 
Drury's  Bluff.— The  charge  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regi 
ment  and  their  sufferings, 249 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

The  advance  on  Fort  Darling.— The  Skirmishers  of  the  One 
Hundredth.— The  wounding  of  Lieut.  Hoyt— The  taking 
of  the  Rail  Fence.— The  advance  of  May  16th.— The  fatal 
results.— Again  within  Intrenchments.— Duty  in  Camp  and 
on  the  Picket  Line.— The  reported  assaults  of  the  Rebels 
on  our  line.— Gen.  Walker  taken  prisoner.— Gen.  Butler  re 
inforces  Grant, 256 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

The  Regiment  still  at  Bermuda  Hundred.— Constant  firing  of 
the  Rebels  on  our  Pickets.— They  evacuate  their  works.— 
We  entered  them,  reached  the  Railroad,  and  tore  up  track 
for  three  miles.— Assailed  by  Pickett's  Division.— The  Rebels 
repulsed!— We  held  their  Pits.— They  assault  on  the  17th 
of  June.— Are  repulsed.— The  Brigade  ordered  to  Deep 
Bottom. — Made  a  landing  and  intrenched. — Capt.  Granger 
charged  the  Grover  House  and  drove  the  Rebels, 266 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

The  Position  of  the  Grover  House.— The  assistance  of  the 
Gunboats.— The  Rebels  shelled.— Our  position  at  Deep 
Bottom  contrasted  with  that  on  the  Bermuda  Front.— The 
Works  on  our  Front  were  made  strong. — The  Brigade  was 
reinforced.— July  27th  Hancock  and  Sheridan  moved  upon 
our  right— The  whole  line  moved.— Co."  K,"  Capt.  Granger, 
made  another  charge.— Capt.  Richardson  killed.— His  body 
was  not  recovered, 274 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Preparations  for  the  advance  on  the  north  side  of  the  James 
at  Deep  Bottom.— Hancock's  Corps  and  Gregg's  Cavalry 


Contents.  xxi 

PAGE. 

with  Terry's  Division  of  Birney's  Tenth  Corps. — Moved  out 
of  works  at  Deep  Bottom  on  the  morning  of  August  loth. 
— The  One  Hundredth  charge  and  take  a  Battery  of  four 
guns. — Made  a  connection  with  Hancock  and  moved  to  the 
front,  and  led  the  charge  on  the  enemy's  works  at  Fussill's 
Mills,.... 281 

CHAPTER  XL. 

The  charge  on  the  Rebel  Works,  August  16th.— The  Regi 
ment  repulsed. — Fell  back  and  threw  up  Intrenchments. — 
The  Rebels  attack  and  are  repulsed  in  turn. — The  dead 
were  buried  under  a  flag  of  truce. — Withdrew  on  the  night 
of  the  18th. — Moved  to  old  camp  at  Deep  Bottom. — Regi 
ment  lost  seventy-three  killed,  wounded  and  missing. — : 
Paymaster  arrived. — Money  expressed  home, 288 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

Hancock  and  Gregg  withdrawn  from  the  north  side  of  James 
River. — The  One  Hundredth  again  at  Deep  Bottom. — Or 
dered  to  the  Trenches  before  Petersburg. — Occupied  the 
position  held  by  the  Ninth  Corps. — Gen.  Burnside. — Life  in 
the  Trenches. — Col.  Dandy  gone  to  Buffalo. — Few  officers 
for  duty, 296 

CHAPTER  XLII. 

Withdrawal  of  the  Regiment  from  the  Trenches  of  Petersburg. 
— A  few  days'  rest  at  the  rear,  preparatory  to  another  move. 
— Moved  on  the  evening  of  the  28th  Sept. — Crossed  at  Deep 
Bottom. — Took  Fort  Harrison,  Spring  Hill  and  the  entire 
line  of  the  Rebel  Works. — The  works  were  turned,  and  we 
were  assaulted  7th  Oct.,  and  gave  the  Enemy  a  severe  and 
bloody  repulse. — Withdrew  and  camped  a  few  days  at 
Deep  Bottom. — Returned  to  the  front, 304 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 

The  Regiment  ordered  to  the  front  from  Deep  Bottom. — A 
visit  from  G.  S.  Hazard,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
Buffalo. — Maj.  Nash  honorably  discharged. — Return  of  Col. 


xxii  Contents. 

PAGE 

Dandy.— Two  Hundred  Recruits  arrived.— The  Fight  on  the 
Darbytown  Road,  October  27th.— The  Troops  retire  behind 
their  works  for  winter  quarters. — The  muster  out  of  the 
"  Old  Men."— Their  return  to  Buffalo, 313 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 

Col.  Plaisted  issued  an  Address  to  the  Third  Brigade.— Col. 
Dandy  in  command  of  Brigade,  Capt.  Brunck  of  Regiment. 
—The  "  Old  Men  "  of  the  Regiment  mustered  out.— Their 
Reception  by  the  Board  of  Trade.— The  Address  of  the 
President,  G.  S.  Hazard.— The  Promotions  in  the  Regiment 
—Arrival  of  Recruits.— Executions  of  Deserters.— Occupa 
tion  of  Troops  in  winter  quarters. — Gen.  Butler  relieved. — 
Gen.  Ord  hi  command. — Rebel  Deserters, 320 

CHAPTER  XLV. 

Routine  of  Camp  Duties  before  Richmond. — Promotions  dur 
ing  the  winter. — Grant's  movement  on  the  left. — Sheridan's 
Grand  Cavalry  Raid. — Brigade,  Division  and  Corps  Reviews, 
attended  by  President  Lincoln,  Secretary  Stanton,  Grant  and 
many  Ladies. — The  fine  appearance  of  the  Army  at  this 
date. — Moved  March  27th  for  the  south  side  of  the  James 
at  Hatcher's  Run. — Advanced  upon  the  Enemy's  Works, . . .  326 

CHAPTER  XL VI. 

The  steady  advance  upon  the  Enemy's  Works. — The  Rebels 
assault  on  the  morning  of  April  1st. — They  are  successfully 
repulsed. —Regiment  continues  to  intrench. — The  advance 
April  2d,  and  Storming  of  Fort  Grigg  in  the  rear  of  Peters 
burg. — Promotions  in  the  Regiment  March  30th, 333 

CHAPTER  XL VII. 

The  assault  of  Fort  Grigg  in  the  rear  of  Petersburg. — The 
work  assigned  to  the  First  Division,  Twenty-fourth  Army 
Corps. — The  loss  of  Maj.  Dandy  of  the  One  Hundredth 
New'; York.— The  Fort  taken;  and  garrison  nearly  all  killed 
and  wounded. — The  pursuit  of  Gen.  Lee. — Arrival  at  Burkes- 


Contents.  xxiii 

PAGE. 

ville. — Pass  through  Farmville,  and  reach  the  Rebel  Army 
at  Appomattox.— Fighting  the  last  Battle.— Surrender  of 
Lee's  Array. — Its  Parole. — News  of  the  President's  Assassi 
nation. — Return  march. — Entering  Richmond, 339 

CHAPTER  XL VIII. 

The  One  Hundredth  joins  the  Brigade  at  Appomattox. — The 
return  march  to  Richmond. — Our  reception  by  the  resident 
Troops.— Encamped  outside  City.— Reception  of  Second, 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  and  Sherman's  Army. — Incidents  and 
routine  of  Camp  Life. — Inspections  and  reviews,  346 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 

Gen.  Foster  in  command  of  Division  on  leave. — Gen.  Osborne 
in  command. — Return  Soldiers  from  Andersonville. — Leaves 
of  absence  and  passes  to  the  City. — Resignation  of  Capt. 
Stowits. — Letter  of  Gen.  Dandy. — Appointment  of  Capt. 
Cook  as  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General. — A  Corps  Re 
view  and  Gen.  Gibbon's  farewell  order. — Arrival  of  the  One 
Hundredth  at  Albany,  and  muster  out. — Presentation  of 
Battle  Flags  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  to  the  Buffalo 
Historical  Society,  by  Lieut.  Col.  Warren  Granger,  Jr., 352 

CHAPTER  L. 

Closing  Words. — Reflections  upon  the  War  kso  successfully 
ended,  and  the  brilliant  and  hopeful  future  of  this  Young 
Republic, 359 

APPENDIX. 

Biographical  Sketches.    In  Memoriam : 

Colonel  James  Malcolm  Brown, 363 

Lieutenant  Colonel'Phineas  Staunton, 366 

Major  James  H.  Dandy, 368 

Captain  Michael  Bailey, 369 

Captain  William  Richardson, 371 

Captain  Frank  C.  Brunck, 371 

Lieutenant  John  W.  Wilkeson,  Jr., 373 

Lieutenant  Charles  Severance  Farnham, 376 

Lieutenant  Samuel  S.  Kellogg, 378 


xxiv  Contents. 

Biographical  Sketches.    In  Memoriam :  PAGE. 

Lieutenant  Rodney  B.  Smith,  Jr., 378 

Adjutant  Herbert  H.  Haddock, 379 

Lieutenant  Charles  H.  Runckle, 380 

Lieutenant  Azor  Hilton  Hoyt, 3 

Lieutenant  Cyrus  Brown, 382 

Lieutenant  James  H.  French, 382 

Biographical  Sketches  of  Surviving  Officers : 

Brigadier  General  Gustavus  A.  Scroggs, 3 

Brevet  Brigadier  General  Calvin  N.  Otis, 386 

Major  Daniel  D.  Nash, 387 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Lewis  S.  Payne, 3 

Brevet  Colonel  Warren  Granger,  Jr., 393 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles  E.  Walbridge, 394 

Major  George  H.  Stowits, 3 

Lieutenant  George  G.  Barnum,  Jr., 3 

Captain  Oscar  F.  Richards, 39£ 

Lieutenant  Alfred  Lythe, 4 

George  S.  Hazard, 4 

Buffalo  Board  of  Trade, 

Erie  County  Savings  Bank, 406 

Commissioned  Officers, 407 

Muster  In  Roll,  Field  and  Staff  Officers, 410 

Company  "  A," 41° 

«  «         «  B," 411 

«  «         «(  QJ» 412 

u  «        « p'^' 413 

«  «        "E," 414 

«  «         "  F," 415 

«  «        "G," 416 

u  »  .      « H," 417 

ii  «         "I/'  418 

K  ««        «« K," 419 

List  of  Names  Recruited  by  the  Board  of  Trade, 421 


CHAPTER  I. 


ORDER     OF    THE    WAR    DEPARTMENT    TO     GEN.     G.     A. 

SCROGGS. NUMBER   OF  MEN   RECRUITED   FOR   THE 

"EAGLE  BRIGADE." — STATEMENT  OF  ADJT.  GEN.  STONE- 
HOUSE.  NOMINATION  OF  GEN.  SCROGGS  FOR  BRIGA 
DIER-GENERAL.  ORIGIN  OF  THE  ONE  HUNDREDTH 

REGIMENT. 


The  struggle  for  National  life  was  upon  us.  The 
people  were  aroused.  The  War  Department,  Au 
gust  19th,  1861,  issued  to  Gen.  Gustavus  A.  Scroggs, 
of  the  city  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  the  following  order : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  August  19th,  1861. 
Gen.  G.  A.  SCROGGS,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. : 

SIR :  —  You  are  hereby  authorized  to  raise  and  organize  a  bri 
gade  of  four  full  regiments,  to  serve  for  three  years  or  during  the 
war. 

This  acceptance  is  with  the  distinct  understanding  that  this  De 
partment  will  revoke  the  commissions  of  all  officers  who  may  be 
found  incompetent  for  the  proper  discharge  of  their  duties. 

You  will  promptly  advise  Adjt.  Gen.  Thomas,  at  Washington, 


2$          Onz  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

the  date  at  which  your  men  will  be  ready  for  mustering,  in  accord 
ance  with  General  Orders  relative  thereto. 
I  am,  Sir, 

Very  respectfully, 
FL  s  1  Your  obed't  servant, 

THOMAS  A.  SCOTT, 
Asst.  Secretary  of  War. 

Gen.  Scroggs  received  the  order  August  22d,  and 
immediately  entered  upon  the  duties  assigned  him. 
Being  authorized,,  he  established  a  camp  at  Fort  Por 
ter,  designating  it  Camp  Morgan,  overlooking  Ni 
agara  river,  the  harbor  of  Buffalo  and  the  adjacent 
shore  of  Canada ;  and  at  once  took  the  necessary  steps 
for  successfully  recruiting,  by  establishing  offices  at 
different  points  in  the  city,  county  and  surrounding 
country. 

Barracks,  a  mess  house,  guard  house  and  other 
buildings  were  constructed  for  the  accommodation  of 
recruits  assembled  and  assembling,  sufficient  to  ac 
commodate  fifteen  hundred  men. 

Recruiting  continued  at  Buffalo,  and  at  other  places, 
under  the  authority  of  Gen.  Scroggs,  until  the  16th 
day  of  August,  1862. 

From  the  receipt  of  the  order,  August  22d,  1861, 
to  the  16th  day  of  August,  1862,  Gen.  Scroggs  en 
listed  and  caused  to  be  enlisted  and  mustered  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States  at  Buffalo,  two  thousand 
and  twenty-one  men  ;  and  the  aggregate  of  enlistments 
at  other  stations  established  under  the  order,  was  one 
thousand  five  hundred,  making  three  thousand  five 
hundred  and  twenty-one  men;  and  the  troops  so 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.         2T 

enlisted  were  organized  into  companies  and  regiments 
and  entered  the  service  of  the  United  States. 

The  regiments,  which  were  to  constitute  the  "  Eagle 
Brigade"  were  as  follows:  One  in  Buffalo,  to  be 
commanded  by  Col.  James  M .  Brown ;  one  in  Sing 
Sing,  by  Col.  John  P.  Jenkins ;  two  in  New  York 
city,  by  Col.  Daniel  Ullman  and  Col.  George  B.  Buck 
ingham,  respectively. 

J.  B.  Stonehouse,  Assistant  Adjutant  General  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  in  a  communication  to  Bvt.  Lieut. 
Col.  E.  J.  Dodge,  U.  S.  A.,  chief  mustering  officer  at 
Albany,  gives  the  number  of  companies,  regiments 
and  different  arms  of  the  service  into  which  the  men 
recruited  by  Gen.  Scroggs  were  mustered.  He  fur 
ther  states  the  reason  why  the  brigade  did  not  take 
the  field  as  such ;  which  was  the  urgent  demand  for 
troops,  and  the  consolidation  of  all  available  recruits, 
that  the  army  might  have  their  services  at  once. 

The  Adjutant  General  says,  that  Gen.  Scroggs  was 
nominated  by  President  Lincoln  for  Brigadier  Gen 
eral  of  Volunteers,  in  July,  1862,  but  was  not  con 
firmed  by  the  Senate.  His  name,  with  many  others, 
was  not  acted  upon,  because  the  number  nominated 
exceeded  the  number  authorized  by  Congress. 

The  President  personally  assured  Gen.  Scroggs 
that  his  name  should  be  sent  to  the  Senate  when  a 
vacancy  occurred;  but  Gen.  Scroggs  in  the  mean 
time  was  prostrated  with  typhoid  fever,  and  was  con 
fined  to  his  room  for  over  seven  months,  and  hence 
unable  to  look  after  the  matter. 


28          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

It  is  justly  due  Gen.  Scroggs  and  the  public  that 
these  historical  facts  of  the  "  Eagle  Brigade  "  should 
be  recorded,  that  all  may  know  the  origin  of  the  One 
Hundredth  Kegiment,  and  the  starting  point  of  its 
existence. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.         29 


CHAPTER  II. 

ORDERS  FOR  RECRUITING. CAPT.  D.  D.  NASH  RAISED  FIRST 

COMPANY. GLOOMY  PROSPECTS  FOR    RECRUITING.  — 

LIABILITIES  OF  GEN.  SCROGGS. AID  OF  WILLIAM  WIL- 

KESON,    ESQ. SCROGGS    RELIEVED. CAMP    MORGAN 

ESTABLISHED. NECESSARY     BUILDING     PROVIDED.  — 

REGIMENT  RAISED,  AND  NAMED  THE  ONE  HUNDREDTH. 

DONATIONS     AND     CAMP     INCIDENTS. ORDERS     TO 

LEAVE  EXPECTED.  * 

The  first  order  issued  for  raising  a  company  for  the 
One  Hundredth  Regiment  was  to  Capt.  Walter  B. 
Moore,  of  LeRoy,  Genesee  county,  and  was  dated 
September  2d,  1861. 

On  the  18th  of  September,  1861,  Gen.  Scroggs 
issued  orders  to  Capt.  Daniel  D.  Nash,  of  Springville, 
Erie  county,  to  Capt.  John  Mcholson,  Capt.  Charles 
E.  Morse,  Capt.  Michael  Bailey ;  on  the  21st  to  Capt. 
P.  Edwin  Dye;  on  the  21th  to  Capt.  Charles  11. 
Henshaw ;  on  the  26th  to  Capt.  George  Hinson,  all  of 
Buffalo;  on  the  9th  of  October,  to  Capt.  Lewis  S. 
Payne,  of  Tonawanda;  on  the  19th  of  October,  to 
Capt,  Charles  E.  Kauert,  of  Buffalo.  At  this  time  the 


30          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  &  Volunteers. 

headquarters   of  Gen.    Scroggs   were  at  the  "Old" 
Court  House. 

At  this  juncture  of  military  affairs  in  the  history  of 
the  organization  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment, 
there  was  no  pressing  demand  for  troops.  One  hun 
dred  dollars  United  States  bounty  was  all  the  induce 
ment  offered,  and  at  that  time  it  was  ordered  not  to 
be  paid  till  after  the  expiration  of  two  years'  service. 
It  was  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  with  a  prospect  of  cold 
and  uncomfortable  quarters  for  the  coming  winter ; 
all  of  which  seemed  to  add  despondency  to  gloom, 
and  was  anything  but  cheering  to  officers  engaged  in 
recruiting. 

The  25th  of  September  heralded  Capt.  Daniel  D. 
Nash,  with  a  company  from  Springville,  as  the  first 
offering  toward  the  formation  of  the  "Eagle  Brigade." 
Comfortable  quarters  were  at  once  provided  for  the 
men  at  Fort  Porter,  now  Camp  Morgan,  in  honor  of 
the  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Gen. 
Scroggs  assumed  responsibility.  Recruiting  pro 
gressed  with  reasonable  rapidity.  ISTo  public  meet 
ings,  fairs,  shows  nor  benefits  were  held  in  aid  of  the 
regiment.  It  was  recruited  wholly  by  the  enterprise 
of  its  officers  and  men. 

Brevet  Brig.-Gen.  C.  N.  Otis  loaned  fourteen  hun 
dred  dollars  to  officers  for  recruiting,  which  was 
promptly  paid  at  the  first  payment  of  the  regiment. 
The  recruiting  of  the  regiment  was  simply  a  work  of 
dogged,  stubborn  resolution  on  the  part  of  its  officers, 
which  filled  its  ranks  and  established  its  existence. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          31 

Gen.  Scroggs  had  incurred  a  heavy  indebtedness 
in  the  erection  of  the  necessary  buildings  at  Camp 
Morgan,  for  which  the  United  States  Disbursing  Offi 
cer,  Lieut.  Cutting,  refused  to  pay. 

Then,  William  Wilkeson,  Esq.,  came  promptly  to 
his  aid.  He  went  to  Washington,  had  an  interview 
with  Adjt.  Gen.  Thomas,  whom  he  describes  "  as  a 
severe,  abrupt  and  imperious  man  " ;  but  ultimately 
procured  an  appropriation  to  pay  off  the  debts  con 
tracted,  and  for  building  additional  barracks,  and 
more:  got  the  mustering  officer,  Lieut.  Cutting,  re 
moved,  and  Capt.  Fleming  appointed,  who  rendered 
all  the  needed  assistance  for  the  comfort  and  care  of 
recruits. 

Gen.  Scroggs  affirms  that  William  Wilkeson  saved 
him,  when  on  the  verge  of  ruin,  in  consequence  of 
debts  contracted,  by  his  Washington  diplomacy,  and 
that  to  him  more  than  any  other  civilian  the  One 
Hundredth  Regiment  is  indebted  for  aid  in  getting 
ready  for  the  field.  Without  display,  Mr.  Wilkeson 
gave  much  time,  labor  and  money  toward  providing 
men  for  the  army,  for  which  a  consciousness  of  duty 
performed  must  be  his  reward. 

October  12th.  Surg.  Martin  S.  Kittenger  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Morgan  and  ordered  to  report 
to  Gen.  Scroggs  for  duty.  During  the  fall  and 
winter,  donations  were  made  from  individuals  and 
from  the  public  schools  of  the  city,  of  socks,  comfort 
ers,  mittens  and  many  other  needed  articles,  which  the 
soldier  found  to  be  of  valuable  aid. 


32          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

Special  donations  were  made  to  captains  of  particu 
lar  companies  by  intimate  friends.  Capt.  Gardner  of 
Co.  "  D,"  and  Capt,  P.  Edwin  Dye  of  Co.  "  II,"  were 
recipients  of  such  favors. 

November  18th.  The  regiment  had  assumed  pro 
portions,  and  was  favorably  noticed  by  the  press  of 
the  city  and  county. 

November  22d.  The  teachers  of  the  public  schools 
of  the  city  presented  to  Capt.  P.  Edwin  Dye,  who  as 
principal  of  public  school  No.  16  had  entered  the 
service,  a  sword,  sash,  belt,  pistol  and  camp  trunk. 
Sandford  B.  Hunt,  superintendent  of  schools,  Hon. 
Victor  M.  Eice,  N.  B.  Barker  and  Samuel  Slade, 
made  appropriate  and  patriotic  remarks,  to  which 
Capt.  Dye  responded  with  emotion  and  military 
enthusiasm. 

November  30th.  Maj.  C.  N.  Otis  was  presented 
with  a  horse  by  Messrs.  E.  "W.  Ensign,  Charles  En 
sign,  Thomas  LeClear,  C.  J.  Wells,  D.  S.  Bennett 
and  John  Allen.  Maj.  Otis  returned  thanks  in  fitting 
terms. 

During  the  winter  patriotic  meetings  were  held  in 
the  mess  room  at  Camp  Morgan,  and  were  addressed 
by  Chaplain  Cook,  O.  F.  Presbrey,  Geo.  II.  Stowits 
and  others. 

December  21st.  Humors  of  small  pox  at  camp 
were  circulated,  which  were  promptly  rebuked  and 
denied  by  Surg.  Kittenger. 

At  this  date,  the  regiment  was  a  fixed  fact.  Com 
pany  and  .battalion  drills  were  ordered,  and  recruiting 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          33 

continued.  Friends  came  and  went,  though  many 
indulged  the  vain  hope  that  the  regiment  would  not 
be  needed,  and  that  its  members  would  see  their 
homes,  instead  of  the  tented  field. 

January  1st,  1862.  Hundreds  of  men  were  clam 
orous  for  passes,  and  the  indulgences  of  a  happy  new 
year.  Calls  were  made  by  the  officers  at  the  houses 
of  friends  in  the  city.  Drills  were  suspended.  A 
new  year's  dinner  was  given  to  the  officers  of  the 
"Eagle  Brigade,"  Gen.  Scroggs  presiding.  Toasts, 
regular  and  irregular,  were  given  with  the  usual  re 
sponses,  by  S.  B.  Hunt,  Maj.  Drew,  William  Wilkeson, 
Capt.  Fleming,  Maj.  Otis,  Joseph  Warren  and  Lieut. 
Sturgeon,  U.  S.  A.  The  best  of  feeling  prevailed. 

January  3d.  Col.  Brown  and  Gen.  Scroggs  con 
solidated  companies.  Adjt.  Chadwick  presented 
Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  with  a  camp  set,  as  a  "new 
year's  gift."  As  was  usual  with  men  unaccustomed 
to  military  restraint,  and  the  long  detention  in  bar 
racks,  so  near  the  excitements  and  amusements  of 
a  large  city,  many  irregularities  and  indulgences 
occurred.  The  influences  of  a  chaplain  were  needed. 
The  regiment,  as  yet,  was  unprovided. 

January  6th.  William  D.  Murray  came  to  remain 
as  assistant  surgeon. 

January  9th.  Rumors  that  the  brigade  was  soon 
to  be  sent  into  the  field.  Field  officers  were  mustered 
into  service  by  Capt.  Fleming,  U.  S.  A. 

January    14th.      Col.    Brown,   paraded   the   streets 
of  the  city  with  six  hundred  men. 
2* 


34          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

January  19th.  The  regiment  received  its  name,  as 
the  One  Hundredth  K  Y.  S.  Volunteers.  Gen. 
Scroggs  selected  the  name,  or  number  of  the  regiment, 
though  not  seventy  regiments  had  then  left  for  the 
seat  of  war.  Officers  at  that  date  were  allowed  to 
choose  a  number  for  their  regiment,  and  hence  men 
familiar  with  our  military  history  rank  the  regiment 
as  raised  in  1862,  as  then  they  were  named  in  regular 
order.  The  remainder  of  the  month  was  occupied  in 
daily  drills,  and  the  usual  camp  routine.  Maj.  Kobie 
finished  the  payment  of  the  troops. 

February  5th.  Col.  Quimby  examined  officers  in 
tactics. 

February  10th.  "  General  Orders  "  were  received 
for  the  regiment  to  be  ready  to  move  within  twenty- 
four  hours'  notice. 

February  13th.  Orders  to  leave  countermanded. 
Capt.  Bailey  and  Lieut.  Lynch  presented  with  sword, 
sash  and  belt. 

February  17th.  Gen.  Scroggs  gave  dinner  to  all 
officers  of  the  regiment. 

February  22d.  The  regiment  took  part  in  the 
celebration  of  Washington's  Birthday,  and  was  favored 
with  the  post  of  honor  on  the  right. 

March  1st,  Surg.  M.  S.  Ivitteuger  expressed  his 
obligations  to  the  ladies  of  Lockport  for  hospital  stores. 
The  regiment  was  in  daily  expectation  of  orders  to 
move,  which  were  near  at  hand. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.          35 


CHAPTER  III. 

MARCHING    ORDERS. BROKE    CAMP. LEFT  FOR  ALBANY. 

ARRIVAL  AND  DEPARTURE  FOR  NEW  YORK. PASS 
ED     THROUGH     PHILADELPHIA     AND     BALTIMORE,    AND 

ARRIVAL    AT    WASHINGTON. IN    CAMP    AT    MERIDIAN 

HILL.  ORDERED     TO     FORTRESS      MONROE      BY      THE 

WAY       OF       ALEXANDRIA. ARRIVAL       AT      NEWPORT 

NEWS. 

The  order  for  movement  came.  Life  at  Camp  Mor 
gan  was  at  an  end.  Fears  of  not  entering  the  field 
were  dispelled.  Camp  was  broken  at  7-J-  A.  M.  Regi 
ment  left  the  city  of  Buffalo  at  10  A.  M.  The  ex 
changed  adieus  of  friends  had  been  given,  and  the  One 
Hundredth  Regiment  was  Hearing  its  theatre  of  suffer 
ings.  Albany  was  reached  at  6  A.  M.  the  following 
day.  Regiment  crossed  the  ice  on  foot.  Arrived  in 
New  York  city  at  5  P.  M.  The  men  were  quartered 
at  Park  Barracks,  and  were  provided  with  cooked  ra 
tions.  The  officers  stopped  at  hotels  in  the  vicinity. 

Sunday  morning,  March  9th.  Arms  of  the  Enfield 
pattern,  with  accoutrements,  were  issued  to  the  men, 
as  well  as  camp  equipage.  Orders  to  leave  at  4  P.  M. 


36          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

Men  in  readiness  and  lay  on  arms  all  night.  Moved 
at  9  A.  M.  Monday  morning  to  Jersey  Ferry,  crossed, 
took  cars  for  Philadelphia,  arriving  at  Cam  den,  oppo 
site,  at  8J  P.  M.  Crossed,  and,' as  if  by  instinct,  took 
the  line  to  the  "  refreshment  saloon"  one  of  the  proud 
enterprises  of  the  Quaker  city,  where  it  is  said  every 
regiment  passing  through  the  city  had  been  fed  during 
the  war.  "We  know  that  every  soldier  there  enter 
tained  passed  from  those  loaded  tables  with  a  heart 
overflowing  with  gratitude  to  the  loyal  hearts  of  that 
loyal  city. 

In  the  quiet  of  evening  the  regiment  marched 
through  the  streets  of  Philadelphia,  and  at  11  P.  M. 
started  on  train  for  Baltimore,  arriving  at  Washington 
March  12th,  Wednesday,  6  P.  M.  Passed  the  night 
in  the  Soldiers'  Eest  near  the  railroad  depot.  Formed 
regiment  on  railroad  track  at  9  A.  M.  Thursday,  March 
13th,  and  inarched  through  Pennsylvania  avenue,  to 
Fourteenth  street  and  Meridian  Hill,  where  tents  were 
pitched,  and  the  regiment  began  its  first  lessons  in 
camp  life. 

As  a  matter  and  fact  of  history,  the  One  Hundredth 
was  the  only  regiment  that  left  the  city  of  Buffalo  per 
fectly  organized  and  complete.  It  was  full,  its  officers 
were  appointed  and  commissioned,  and  wherever  it 
appeared  en  route  for  its  camp  at  Washington,  it  was 
eminently  acknowledged  to  be  a  most  superior  regi 
ment,  especially  in  the  city  of  Washington. 

As  soldiers  march  and  fight  on  their  stomachs,  Maj. 
Otis,  who  had  great  care  for  the  men,  set  about  get- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          37 

ting  rations,  that  grumbling  might  be  quieted,  which 
seemed  ever  to  be  the  right  of  a  soldier.  They  were 
obtained.  The  soldier's  duty  was  upon  him.  Gun 
accoutrements,  knapsack,  tent,  cooking,  clothing,  com 
pany  and  battalion  drills,  all  in  regular  succession, 
demanded  the  attention  of  the  men,  if  proficiency 
as  a  regiment,  in  most  of  these  essentials,  was  to  be 
obtained. 

During  these  March  days,  rain,  wind  and  disagree 
able  weather  seemed  to  be  the  rule,  which  made  the 
camp  muddy  and  unpleasant. 

March  18th.  The  regiment  was  assigned  as  the 
Fifth  Battalion,  First  Brigade,  Casey's  Division.  Col. 
W.  W.  II.  Davis  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Pennsylvania,  the  senior  colonel,  was  in  command,  an 
officer  of  experience  in  the  Mexican  war,  a  gentleman 
of  culture,  and  universally  esteemed  by  the  officers  and 
men.  The  fortunes  of  the  One  Hundredth  and  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  were  long  linked  together  amid 
the  vicissitudes  of  the  camp  and  field. 

Col.  James  M.  Brown,  in  command  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth,  was  personally  unknown  to  the  writer.  Hav 
ing  had  knowledge  of  a  soldier's  life  and  duty  in  Mex 
ico,  he  certainly  knew  what  should  be  expected  of  a 
soldier  and  of  his  fellow  officers.  He  is  said  to  have 
been  severe  in  his  discipline,  though  in  charity  it  can 
be  said  that  it  was  in  accordance  with  his  conceptions 
of  military  and  military  service.  His  tragical  end  at 
Fair  Oaks,  with  his  brave  and  superhuman  exertions 
on  that  fatal  field  go  far  toward  establishing  his  repu- 


38          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

tation  as  a  soldier,  and  one  fit  for  the  trust  committed 
to  his  charge. 

Tuesday,  March  19th.  Orders  were  received  to 
march  with  three  days'  cooked  rations  in  haversacks. 
Marching  orders  countermanded;  cause,  a  want  of 
transportation.  Ten  days  more  were  given  to  drilling 
and  further  perfecting  the  men  and  officers  in  their 
needs  for  active  service. 

March  21st.  A  grand  review  of  Gen.  Casey's  Di 
vision  of  over  twelve  thousand  men.  The  One  Hun 
dredth  Regiment  had  the  left  of  the  First  Brigade. 
The  Division  elicited  commendation  for  its  soldierly 
appearance.  Squad,  company  and  brigade  drills 
continued  daily.  Guard  duty,  roll  calls,  and  the  ne 
cessary  company  and  regimental  reports,  were  strictly 
attended  to. 

Friday,  March  28th.  The  President  and  Cabinet 
visited  the  various  camps,  creating  much  enthusiasm. 
On  one  occasion  the  carriage  of  the  President  halted 
at  the  camp  of  the  One  Hundredth  during  that  beau 
tiful  sight  in  military  discipline,  a  dress  parade,  while 
he  and  his  wife  expressed  themselves  much  pleased 
with  the  bearing  and  faultless  appearance  of  the  regi 
ment.  Uniforms  and  rations  were  distributed  to  the 
men,  and  marching  orders  were  received  as  the  regi 
ment  were  returning  from  brigade  drill. 

Saturday,  March  29th.  Orders  to  move  at  2  P.  M. 
This  created  great  excitement  among  the  troops,  and 
in  a  moment  all  was  hurry  and  bustle  to  get  ready. 
Dinner  was  swallowed  in  a  twinkling,  and  the  small 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.         39 

quantity  of  surplus  baggage  still  on  hand  quickly  dis 
posed  of.     The  regiments,  in  full  uniform,  were  in  line 
soon  after  two,  but  the  wagons  did  not  arrive  until 
nearly  four.     At  this  hour  the  bugle  signal  from  head 
quarters  sounded,  and  the  division  took  up  its  line  of 
march  down  Fourteenth  street.    As  the  troops  marched 
down  this  broad  avenue  to  the  sounds  of  martial  mu 
sic  from  numerous  bands,  and  the  rays  of  the  declin 
ing  sun  reflected  back  from  the  glittering  bayonets 
and  polished  equipments  of  twelve  thousand  men,  the 
spectacle  was  unusually  fine.     The  men  had  put  on 
their  best  uniforms  to  march  through  the  city,  and 
appeared  clean  and  neat  in  every  particular.     A  large 
crowd  had  assembled  at  Willard's  and  along  the  street 
to  witness  the  departure.     We  crossed  Long  Bridge, 
stepped  upon  Virginia  soil,  and  took  the  road  to  Alex 
andria.     The  night  was  dark  and  chilly.     The' men 
weighed  down  with  their  loaded  knapsacks,  well  filled 
haversacks  and  equipments,  and  unused  to  marching, 
soon  became  wearied  and  began  to  straggle,  which  in 
creased  as  we  advanced.     We  reached  the  suburbs  of 
•Alexandria  at  ten  o'clock,  and  bivouacked  in  an  open 
field  on  the  road  side.     The  men  lay  down  wrapped 
in  their  blankets,  but  the  cold  wind  drove  sleep  away 
from  almost  all  eyes.     No  wood,  could  not  cook  pro 
visions,  snow  and  rain,  and  camp  afloat,  one  expanse 
of  slush,  mud  and  water.     The  storm  continued  for 
two  days.     Orders  came  to  go  on  board  transport. 
The  brigade  to  embark  the  next  morning,  March  31st, 
on  steamer   Constitution,   for  Fortress   Monroe.      In 


40          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

line  at  four,  and  marched  into  town  about  day-light. 
The  vessel  not  ready,  and  the  men  had  to  stand  sev 
eral  hours  in  a  drenching  rain  with  the  mud  shoe-top 
deep.  Five  regiments  were  put  aboard.  Lieut.  Wai- 
bridge  of  Co.  "  II,"  was  detailed  as  acting  quarter 
master,  and,  as  the  sequal  shows,  a  judicious  appoint 
ment.  The  vessel  was  aground  and  could  not  move. 
The  rain  fell  in  torrents  through  the  night.  Those 
on  the  upper  decks  were  soaked  with  water.  Started 
at  six  o'clock.  Got  aground  near  Aquia  Creek.  Lay 
till  8  A.  M.  next  day. 

Arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe  at  2  P.  M.,  April  1st. 
The  Constitution  was  the  largest  vessel  in  the  world, 
next  to  the  Great  Eastern.  When  aground  she  lay 
fast  embedded  in  the  mud,  broadside  to  shore,  with 
thirty-five  hundred  men  on  board.  Two  regiments 
were  temporarily  transferred  to  another  steamer,  and 
water  started  in  three  boilers.  A  tug  pulled  her  from 
the  bar.  The  regiments  returned,  and  that  evening 
the  Constitution  was  anchored  between  the  Rip  Raps 
and  Fortress  Monroe.  Near  lay  the  little  Monitor, 
which  had  just  achieved  a  success  over  the  iron  clad 
Merrimac,  and  was  an  object  of  great  interest, 

She  looked  not  unlike  what  the  rebels  called  her, 
"  A  cheese  box  on  a  raft."  The  regiments  were  trans 
ferred  to  other  steamers  and  taken  to  Newport  News. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          41 


CHAPTER  IV. 

AEKIYAL     AT    NEWPORT   NEWS. ENCAMPED. CHANGED 

CAMP. RAIN  AND  DISCOMFORT. ARRIVAL  OF  GEN. 

M'CLELLAN.  —  ARMY    MOVES    FORWARD.  —  REACHES 

WARWICK    COURT    HOUSE. SIEGE    OF    YORKTOWN 

COMMENCES. WORKS  TOO  STRONG  TO  BE  ASSAULTED. 

GEN.    NAGLEE    IN   COMMAND   OF   BRIGADE.  HE 

MAKES  AN  ARMED  RECONNOISSANCE. TROOPS  BE 
HAVED  WELL. NAGLEE  LED  THE  CHARGE  IN  PER 
SON. 

Having  arrived  at  Newport  ISTews,  Gen.  Casey  or 
dered  a  debarkation  at  9J  P.  M.  The  men  bivouacked 
and  slept.  Soon  they  were  ordered  one  and  a  half 
miles  on  into  the  woods.  Thunder  and  rain  during  the 
night,  morning  fair  and  clear.  At  12  M.ordered  to  move 
two  miles  toward  Fortress  Monroe,  to  join  the  rest  of 
the  brigade.  Bivouacked  at  3  P.  M.  near  Gen.  Key's 
headquarters.  Encamped  on  a  plantation  where  the 
depredations  of  40,000  men  were  seen  on  every  hand. 
As  Lieut.  Col.  Stauiiton  had  an  amply  furnished 
camp  chest,  Col.  Brown,  Maj.  Otis  and  Adjt.  Chad- 
wick  accepted  his  oner  of  sharing  its  supplies.  The 


42          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

line  officers  shifted  for  themselves,  and,  as  would  be 
expected,  it  was  a  trying  time  for  men  so  recent  from 
the  comforts  of  home  fare  and  living. 

The  services  of  Maj.  Otis  as  a  professional  architect 
were  in  demand  now,  and  for  the  future,  in  locating 
and  staking  out  camps.  This  was  done.  The  regiment, 
with  wood  and  boughs  for  beds,  slept  on  the  ground. 
Rations  were  short.  The  Major  went  to  Newport 
News  to  obtain  them.  Fresh  beef  and  bread  were  se 
cured.  Camp  was  policed  and  cleared  up. 

April  9th,  18G2.  Edwin  S.  Bishop  was  commis 
sioned  as  quartermaster  in  place  of  Samuel  M.  Cham 
berlain  discharged. 

CD 

Bain,  rain,  and  the  men  wet  and  cold.  Orders  to 
march.  Suspended  at  5  P.  M. 

Thursday,  April  10th.  Cold,  windy,  and  mud  six 
inches  deep.  The  division  remained  encamped  here 
for  ten  days,  the  weather  being  very  wTet  and  exceed 
ingly  cold  most  of  the  time.  There  was  but  little  op 
portunity  for  drill,  and  the  men  were  principally  em 
ployed  in  fatigue  and  picket  duty.  The  division  was 
reviewed  once  by  Gen.  Casey. 

Friday,  April  llth.  Frost  and  ice  one-fourth  of  an 
inch  thick.  The  rebel  ram  Merrimac  came  out  and 
captured  two  schooners,  which  could  not  be  prevented. 
Drew  off  toward  night.  She  kept  a  respectful  dis 
tance  from  the  little  Monitor.  Troops  under  arms. 
All  quiet  at  night. 

Sunday,  April  13th.  Maj.  Otis  was  presented  with 
a  sabre  by  quartermaster  S.  M.  Chamberlain.  A 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.         43 

father's  and  a  patriot's  interest  brought  John  Wilkeson 
to  camp,  .as  friends  at  home  began  to  think  that  their 
sons,  husbands  and  brothers  had  entered  upon  an  ac 
tive,  and,  as  it  proved,  a  sanguinary  campaign.  The 
regiment  was  not  supplied  with  tents  of  any  kind  for 
more  than  a  week,  and  hence  suffered  severely. 
Boughs,  trees  and  boards,  when  found,  offered  the  only 
shelter.  The  weather  was  rainy  and  cold.  At  this 
time  a  large  number  of  officers  and  men  laid  the  foun 
dation  of  disease,  which,  to  some,  was  premature  death. 
Gen.  McClellan  arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe  the 
2d  of  April.  The  army  commenced  its  march  toward 
Yorktown  at  once.  Gen.  Casey's  division  marched 
on  the  morning  of  the  15th  for  Warwick  Court  House. 
The  day  was  warm,  and  the  roads  exceedingly  bad. 
Lieut.  Col.  Staunton,  as  field  officer  of  the  day,  had 
command  of  the  advance  guard  of  three  companies. 
Distance  marched,  twenty  miles.  A  large  number  of 
men  fell  out  of  ranks.  Warwick  Court  House  reached 
at  5|-  P.  M.  The  regiment  bivouacked  in  an  open 
field.  The  weather,  roads  and  ignorance  of  camp  life 
and  its  duties,  and  unused  exposure,  caused  sickness 
and  suffering  among  both  officers  and  men.  At  the 
close  of  this  severe  day's  march,  Col.  Davis  was  ordered 
to  hasten  to  the  assistance  of  Gen.  Couch  at  Warwick, 
who,  it  was  reported,  had  an  engagement  with  the 
enemy,  and  needed  assistance.  To  raw  troops  these 
marches  were  exhausting  and  demoralizing.  Yirginia 
soil  w^as  never  intended  for  military  operations.  The 
condition  of  the  men  was  simply  that  of  positive  dis- 


44          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

comfort.  Transportation  was  so  uncertain,  and  the 
roads  so  impassable,  that  rations  were  issued  in 
limited  quantities,  and  often  not  more  than  a  box  of 
hard  tack  was  allowed  to  a  company,  which  rendered 
the  men  unfit  to  endure  the  exposure  of  out-door  living. 

Thursday,  April  17th.  Ordered  to  move  two  miles 
nearer  the  rebel  lines,  and  encamped  in  the  woods. 
Col.  Brown  unfit  for  duty.  ISTo  fires  allowed.  Heavy 
firing,  during  the  night. 

Friday,  18th.     An  idle  day. 

Saturday,  19th.  Orders  to  move.  No  move. 
Kested  quiet  all  night. 

Sunday,  April  20th.  Men  under  arms  in  silence 
awaiting  the  "Long  Koll."  Firing  on  our  left,  heavy 
guns  and  small  arms.  Yery  dark  and  rainy.  Firing 
at  intervals  all  night.  The  rebels  attacked  a  battery, 
and  were  repulsed.  Skirmishing  all  day.  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan  had  fairly  planted  his  army  before  Yorktown. 
The  enemy  held  a  strongly  fortified  position  from  York 
to  James  river.  Yorktown  was  well  defended.  Earth 
works  at  Gloucester  Point  commanded  the  river  front. 
It  was  decided  by  general  officers  and  engineers  that 
the  works  could  not  be  taken  by  assault.  The  siege 
was  commenced.  Ileintzelman's  corps  was  on  the 
right.  Sumner's  occupied  the  centre,  and  Keyes'  the 
left.  Continuous  rains  had  converted  the  country  into 
a  quagmire,  and  the  troops  lived  in  the  mud,  to  all  in 
tents  and  purposes.  It  was  impossible  for  the  men  to 
keep  their  clothing  and  equipments  clean. 

Monday,  April  21st.      The   One   Hundredth   was 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  £  Volunteers.          45 

ordered  with  Eleventh  Maine  to  stand  at  arms,  and  ad 
vance  two  miles  as  reserves.  Bivouacked  in  woods. 
Rained  for  three  hours,  and  the  men  were  drenched 
through  and  through.  To  all  it  was  a  night  of  mili 
tary  suffering.  The  next  day  Col.  Brown,  Lieut.  Col. 
Staunton,  Maj.  Otis  and  Adjt.  Chad  wick,  rode  out  to 
view  rebel  batteries.  During  the  absence  of  the  field 
officers,  Gen.  Kearney  and  staff  came  along  and  or 
dered  Capt.  Nash  to  fall  in  the  regiment  and  move  to 
the  front.  Soon,  however,  the  order  was  counter 
manded.  Weather  some  more  pleasant.  A  few  of 
the  regiments  had  constructed  model  camps  amid  all 
their  privations,  sufferings  and  exposures.  The  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania,  the  regiment 
raised  by  the  brigade  commander,  had  constructed  a 
model  camp,  called  "  Pine  Grove  Camp,"  which  was 
beautiful  and  tastefully  arranged  and  adorned.  It 
was  an  extemporized  home  for  worn  and  weary  men. 
From  the  time  the  army  set  down  before  Yorktown 
until  the  defences  were  evacuated  by  the  enemy,  the 
siege  was  actively  prosecuted.  The  labor  was  severe. 
Building  roads,  batteries,  and  mounting  guns,  together 
with  a  vigilant  watchfulness  of  the  enemy's  operations, 
occupied  the  time  of  officers  and  men  day  and  night. 

The  work  was  heavy  on  all  parts  of  the  line.  On 
the  left  the  distance  to  the  enemy's  works  was  about 
two  hundred  yards.  The  camps  were  nearly  a  mile 
from  the  rebel  works.  In  going  to  and  returning  from 
the  picket  line,  the  men  were  obliged  often  to  wade 
half-leg  deep  through  water,  and  lay  out  day  and 


46  *       One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

night  in  the  rain  watching  the  enemy  from  a  brush 
heap  or  fence  corner.  Pickets  were  frequently  fired 
upon,  and  often  the  first  salute  to  the  new  officer  of 
the  day  was  a  shot  from  one  of  the  enemy's  batteries. 
Such  was  the  new  life  of  the  newly  made  soldier. 
Food  was  scarce ;  officers  often  fared  worse  than  their 
men,  and  as  often  dependent  upon  them. 

Wednesday,  April  23d.  Col.  Davis  was  relieved 
of  command  of  the  brigade  by  Gen.  Naglee,  whom 
McClellan  had  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Casey  for 
duty.  Col.  Davis  says :  "  I  felt  great  pride  in  the  bri 
gade,  and  naturally  resigned  the  command  of  it  with 
some  regret.  It  was  by  all  odds  the  best  in  the  divi 
sion.  I  had  taken  the  regiments  on  their  first  arrival 
at  Washington,  the  fall  before,  organized,  drilled  and 
disciplined  them,  and  when  I  gave  up  the  command 
I  do  not  believe  the  brigade  was  second  to  any  in  the 
army  of  the  Potomac  for  efficiency." 

Gen.  lN"aglee  was  as  gallant  an  officer  as  could  be 
found  in  the  army,  impetuous,  and  sometimes  rash, 
but  just  to  his  officers  and  men.  lie  soon  became 
proud  of  his  brigade,  and  thought  there  was  no  duty 
so  hard  that  it  could  not  perform.  Occasional  firing 
clay  and  night. 

April  25th.  Gunboats  ran  rebel  batteries  and  came 
to  Yorktown.  Shelter  tents  issued  to  the  regiments. 
Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  started  with  five  companies  to 
relieve  pickets,  with  Col.  Plaisted,  Eleventh  Maine,  as 
guide.  Men  without  rations  except  beef.  Cold  and 
rainy.  Paymaster  Dixon  arrived  and  paid  the  men 


CALVIN  N.OTIS. 

Lt.Col.  and  Brevet  Brig.  Gen*  lOO 


.  N.YS.Vols. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.          47 

from  January  1st,  1862,  to  February  28th,  two  months. 
Men  actively  engaged  in  sending  money  home.  A  few 
complaints  about  accounts,  but  finally  they  were  sat 
isfactorily  adjusted.  Col.  Yan  Wyck,  Fifty-sixth  New 
York,  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton,  One  Hundredth,  and  Maj. 
Grier,  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania,  had  a 
narrow  escape  from  the  explosion  of  a  shell. 

Tuesday,  April  29th.  The  regiment  was  ordered 
by  Gen.  Naglee  for  inspection  and  review.  In  the 
afternoon  Gen.  Casey  ordered  Gen.  Naglee  to  make  an 
armed  reconnoissance.  The  brigade  moved  steadily 
forward.  The  One  Hundredth  New  York  was  held 
in  reserve.  A  few  shots  were  exchanged,  and  one  man 
of  the  Eleventh  Maine  was  mortally  wounded.  The 
brigade  returned  to  camp  after  dark,  muddy,  cold  and 
hungry.  Gen.  Naglee  led  the  charge  in  person. 


48          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  V. 

BATTERIES  NEARLY  COMPLETED. ENEMY  EVACUATE  YORK- 
TOWN.  RETREAT     TOWARD     WILLIAMSBURG. GEN. 

M'CLELLAN  PURSUES.  —  BATTLE  OF  WILLIAMSBURG.  - 

THE  TROOPS   MARCH  THROUGH   THE  TOWN. PURSUIT 

CONTINUES. REACHED  NEW  KENT  COURT  HOUSE.  - 

RAIN,  MUD  AND  SHORT  RATIONS  ARE   THE  SUFFERINGS 

OF  THE  ARMY. ARRIVE  NEAR  THE  YORK  RIVER  RAIL 

ROAD,  EIGHTEEN  MILES  FROM  RICHMOND. 

The  recent  reconnoissance  in  force,  in  charge  of  Gen . 
Naglee,  in  which  the  One  Hundredth  took  part,  dem 
onstrated  that  the  enemy  still  held  his  lines.  It  was 
well  conducted  and  gave  confidence  to  the  troops. 

The  works  had  been  pushed  with  such  vigor,  in 
spite  of  all  obstacles,  storms  and  various  delays,  that  it 
was  expected  the  batteries  would  open  May  6th  at 
the  latest.  The  whole  army  was  waiting  the  bom 
bardment. 

April  30th.  Cold  and  rainy,  and  the  men  detailed 
to  make  roads,  a  work  pregnant  with  fatigue  and 
exhaustion. 

May  1st.     Col.  Brown  mustered  the  regiment  for 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          49 

pay.  No  firing  on  the  line  during  the  day.  Eumors 
of  evacuation  of  Yorktown  by  the  rebels.  First 
Lieut.  W.  C.  Mackey  missing. 

Friday,  May  2d.  Heavy  firing  at  the  right.  The 
rebels  shelled  all  day.  Very  warm.  Lieut.  Col. 
Staunton  attending  court  martial  at  headquarters.  A 
few  officers  entertain  the  opinion,  that  the  enemy's 
works  can  be  carried  by  storm.  But  the  rebels  did 
not  wait  for  the  iron  speech  of  Gen.  McClellan's  guns, 
but  evacuated  on  the  night  of  the  3d  of  May,  and 
retired  up  the  Peninsula. 

A  citizen  of  Yorktown,  who  lived  there  during  the 
siege,  stated  subsequently,  that  he  had  often  heard 
rebel  officers  remark  that  Gen.  McClellan  could  drive 
them  out  whenever  he  opened  his  guns.  Knowing 
his  batteries  to  be  nearly  completed,  they  left  witlT- 
out  ceremony. 

Sunday,  May  4th.  Had  orders  to  march  at  9  A.  M. 
As  we  moved  forward  we  found  that  the  enemy  had 
evacuated  their  works,  and  as  we  passed  through  saw 
that  they  were  very  strong.  Marched  ten  miles,  and 
encamped  in  an  open  field.  Eained  during  the  night. 
As  suspicions  strengthened  into  certainty,  troops  of 
all  arms  were  detailed  to  pursue  the  flying  enemy. 
The  fortifications  showed  signs  of  hasty  departure. 
The  troops  were  willing  to  leave  that  mortar  bed, 
even  if  they  were  obliged  to  sink  into  another.  The 
evidences  of  a  hasty  retreat  were  seen  all  along  the 
road  toward  Williamsburg.  The  roads  were  crowded 
with  pursuing  troops. 
3 


50          One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 

In  the  hasty  retreat  from  Yorktown  the  rebels  did 
not  forget  to  leave  the  evidences  of  their  savage 
barbarism  in  the  shape  of  torpedoes,  strewn  all  about 
to  entrap  and  destroy  our  troops.  They  had  planted 
torpedoes  in  the  road  that  led  up  to  their  intrench- 
ments,  and  care  was  required  to  prevent  the  men  from 
treading  upon  them.  One  was  exploded  by  a  soldier 
of  the  Fifty-setfond  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  which 
literally  tore  him  to  pieces,  and  wounded  six  others 
of  the  same  company.  One  of  his  toes  was  found  in 
the  haversack  of  his  comrade. 

Started  early  Monday  morning,  marching  all  day  in 
the  rain.  Stopped  in  woods  one  hour.  The  right  of 
the  army  passed  us.  Firing  heard  in  advance.  Com 
ing  near  Williamsburg,  we  were  ordered  to  support 
our  right  wing,  to  turn  the  enemy's  left.  We  did  so 
on  the  double-quick  for  three  miles,  but  wrere  too  late 
for  the  battle.  The  rebels  were  driven  from  their 
works,  and  retreated  in  great  disorder  beyond  the 
town  that  night.  The  One  Hundredth  bivouacked 
in  an  open  wheat  field  in  a  cold  rain  and  mud,  and 
every  surviving  soldier  remembers  it  as  the  night  of 
great  suffering,  unparalleled  and  indescribable. 

During  the  long  service  of  the  regiment,  and  amid 
hardships  of  a  severe  character,  that  night  before 
Williamsburg  was  referred  to,  as  the  one  beyond  all 
for  nearness  to  the  gates  of  death.  No  words  can 
adequately  describe  the  intense  agony  and  deathly 
dullness  of  that  terrible  night  of  exposure  and  suf 
fering.  When  the  regiment  moved  from  camp  before 


One  Hundredth  N.  T.  8.  Volunteers.          51 

Yorktown,  all  baggage  remained  as  left.  The  regi 
ment  not  returning,  but  continuing  the  march  to 
"Williamsburg,  they  were  necessarily  without  over 
coats,  blankets,  or  protection  of  any  kind,  and  hence 
the  terrors  of  that  awful  night.  Maj.  Nash  asserts 
that  the  men  could  not  at  morning  pull  a  trigger  or  light 
a  match,  so  benumbed  were  they  from  the  cold  and 
rain  of  that  inclement  night.  Col.  Davis  remarks 
the  same  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsyl 
vania.  The  camp  was  left  standing  with  everything 
in  the  tents,  as  though  we  were  going  out  to  drill. 
Neither  officers  nor  men  took  overcoat  or  blanket, 
except  the  thoughtful  few  who  were  always  prepared 
for  an  emergency.  Thus  the  men  were  stripped. 
No  clothing  save  that  in  which  they  stood,  and  after 
an  exciting  march,  heated  and  weary,  it  is  a  wonder 
that  the  half  of  the  regiment  did  not  then  and  there 
find  their  chilling  graves. 

The  next  morning,  May  6th,  it  cleared  oif  fine. 
The  works  about  "Williamsburg  were  very  strong, 
though  unfinished.  The  enemy  made  a  sortie,  and 
were  repulsed  with  great  loss.  The  most  severe  fight 
was  on  the  left  of  Gen.  Naglee's  brigade,  to  which 
the  One  Hundredth  belonged.  Gen.  Naglee  was 
ordered  to  support  Gen.  Hancock.  He  reached  Han 
cock's  position  with  four  regiments :  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania  having  been  separated 
by  accident ;  and  though  the  brigade  was  not  actually 
under  fire,  still  their  coming  so  much  inspirited  Han 
cock's  men,  that  they  were  enabled  to  make  the  final 


52          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

cliarge  which  gave  us  the  day.  The  enemy  retreated 
in  great  disorder  through  Williamsburg  during  the 
night. 

May  7th.  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  field  officer  of  the 
day.  Rations  were  short,  and  the  troops  were  in  a 
sorry  condition.  Here  the  regiment  rested  a  few  days 
to  recover  spirit  and  strength  for  onward  work.  The 
dead  had  been  buried,  and  the  wounded  cared  for, 
and  most  of  the  evidences  of  this  battle  of  doubtful 
advantage  were  disappearing. 

Ordered  on  inspection  at  9  A.  M.,  the  8th.  At 
noon,  brigade  review  by  order  of  Gen.  Naglee.  Bri 
gade  drill  at  2  P.  M.  Went  through  some  new  ma- 
nouvres  on  the  battle  ground,  where  Gen.  Hancock 
charged  the  rebels  a  few  days  before.  A  splendid 
field  for  a  grand  battle,  and  our  brigade  charged  over 
the  same  ground  with  yells. 

On  the  morning  of  May  9th,  the  army  was  ordered 
to  move.  It  was  a  charming  morning.  As  we  filed 
through  Williamsburg  the  bands  played  inspiring 
airs.  Williamsburg  is  an  old  moss  covered  town  of 
ancient  renown,  and  was  once  the  center  of  all  that 
was  fashionable  and  polished  and  aristocratic  in  the 
Old  Dominion.  Gen.  McClellan  and  staff  received 
the  salutes  of  the  army.  The  women  of  the  town 
looked  sullen  and  venomous.  Marched  ten  miles, 
most  of  the  time  very  fast.  Bivouacked  in  a  field 
near  a  wood  and  an  old  "  Baptist  church."  Three 
brigades  of  our  division  were  together.  The  officers 
secured  hoe-cake  from  negroes,  who  did  a  thriving 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.   Volunteers.          53 

business  in  the  midst  of  an  army  of  hungry  men.  At 
11£  P.  M.,  Lieut.  Co].  Staunton  was  awaked  to  post 
pickets,  an  oversight  of  the  commanding  general, 
which  should  have  been  done  at  an  earlier  hour. 

Saturday,  May  10th.  Marched  ten  miles  to  Roper's 
Church.  Roads  blocked  with  cavalry,  infantry  and 
trains.  The  clay's  march  was  through  a  beautiful 
country,  which  was  alive  with  troops. 

Second  Lieut.  Charles  S.  Farnham,  Co.  "A,"  died 
at  Yorktown,  May  12th,  1862,  of  typhoid  fever,  the 
result  of  exposure,  such  as  had  followed  the  regiment 
and  stricken  down  many  of  its  officers  and  men  on 
beds  of  sickness. 

The  army  rested  here  for  two  days.  The  trains 
were  not  up,  rations  were  out,  and  no  army  can  move 
with  empty  haversacks  and  commissary.  The  rebels 
were  three  or  four  miles  distant.  The  roads  were 
simply  execrable.  Orders  to  march  at  7  A.  M.  The 
men  were  under  arms  from  7  A.  M.  to  2  A.  M.  the  14th 
without  taking  off  equipments.  The  movement  was 
exceedingly  slow ;  halts  occurred  every  few  minutes, 
and  it  was  not  a  rare  thing  to  keep  the  men  standing 
in  the  road  an  hour  at  a  time.  Quartermaster  Bishop 
detailed  on  brigade  staff,  and  Lieut.  C.  E.  Walbridge, 
Co.  "  II,"  whose  services  were  not  forgotten,  was  put  in 
charge  as  regimental  quartermaster.  Reached  New 
Kent  Court  House,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles.  The 
court  house,  a  small  and  antiquated  building,  is  noted 
as  having  been  the  scene  of  Patrick  Henry's  forensic 
displays  in  early  life.  We  were  near  the  enemy's  rear- 


5i          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

guard,  skirmishing  every  day.  Bations,  the  life  of 
the  army,  came  up.  Three  days'  were  issued,  and  the 
army  ate  and  rested. 

Thursday,  May  15th.  Lay  in  camp  all  day.  Kained 
continually.  Cleared  off  in  the  afternoon. 

Friday,  16th.  Kations  issued  and  cooked,  and  ready 
for  a  march.  The  camping  ground  is  an  interesting 
place  of  revolutionary  memories.  Lieut.  Col.  Staun- 
ton  on  court  martial  in  the  case  of  Col.  Farnham. 

The  regiment  commenced  its  march  at  3  o'clock  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  17th,  and  pitched  its  tents  near 
Baltimore  Cross  Roads,  seven  miles  beyond.  Here 
the  regiment  passed  Sunday  in  quiet  and  rest. 

Left  Baltimore  Cross  Koads  on  Monday  morning,  the 
19th,  in  a  rain  which  continued  all  day.  New  hats, 
pants  and  shirts  arrived  from  Baltimore,  as  well  as  a 
mail,  which  gave  joy  to  hundreds  of  anxious,  hoping 
hearts.  Marched  six  miles.  Pitched  tents  in  a  wheat 
field  eighteen  miles  from  Kichmond,  near  the  York 
Eiver  Kailroad,  two  miles  below  Despatch  Station. 

May  20th.  The  regiment  was  detailed  for  picket 
and  brigade  guard.  The  General  ordered  Col.  Davis, 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania,  with 
his  regiment,  one  hundred  men  of  the  Fifty-second 
Pennsylvania,  and  two  companies  of  the  Eleventh 
Maine,  to  get  in  readiness  for  a  reconnoissance  toward 
the  Chickahominy.  They  marched  up  the  railroad  to 
within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  river,  twelve  miles 
from  Kichmond,  found  the  bridge  burned  and  the 
enemy  posted  strongly  on  the  opposite  side. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          55 


CHAPTER   VI. 

MARCHED      NEAR     TO     BOTTOM'S      BRIDGE,     TWELVE     MILES 

FROM    RICHMOND. CROSSED    THE    CHICKAIIOMINY. 

COL.     BROWN     SICK.   WEATHER     VERY     WARM     AND 

SHOWERY. SKIRMISH  AT  SAVAGE  STATION. PICK 
ETS  WITHIN  FIVE  MILES  OF  RICHMOND. CASEY'S  DI 
VISION  ENCAMPED  AT  "  SEVEN  PINES." PICKETS 

ATTACKED    BY    REBELS. THEY    WERE    DRIVEN  BACK. 

SEVERE    STORM. THE     APPROACHING    BATTLE     OF 

THE  THIRTY-FIRST  OF  MAY. 

From  Williamsburg  up,  thus  far  our  encounters 
with  the  enemy  had  not  been  serious,  and  casualties 
but  few.  The  reconnoissance  to  the  bridge  resulted  in 
the  loss  of  one  man  wounded  of  the  Eleventh  Maine. 
Shots  were  exchanged,  which  served  no  other  purpose, 
save  to  familiarize  the  men  with  the  sounds  of  shell 
and  minnie  balls.  The  troops  returned  to  camp  about 
dark,  having  behaved  remarkably  well.  Lieut.  Col. 
Staunton  relieved  pickets  at  11  A.  M.  Marching 
orders  for  the  whole  division.  Pickets  were  called  in 
and  the  movement  commenced  immediately.  Marched 
two  miles  and  encamped  half  a  mile  from  the  Chicka- 


56          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

hominy,   near   Bottom's   bridge,   twelve   miles   from 
Richmond. 

It  is  impossible  at  this  time,  so  remote  from  the 
stirring  scenes  we  are  recording,  to  give  what  would 
interest  the  friends  of  those  who  were  actors  and  par 
ticipants  in  that  great  suffering  of  marching  up  the 
Peninsula.  With  each  soldier  and  officer,  it  will  ever 
remain  an  unwritten  history.  The  many  personal 
incidents  of  sickness,  hospital  life  and  death,  are  facts 
which  are  part  of  the  inevitable  life  of  a  soldier.  As 
we  were  not  with  the  regiment  at  the  time,  and  have 
no  records  or  means  of  stating  what  would  recall  to 
the  soldier  who  reads  these  pages,  as  a  part  of  his 
individual  experience,  we  can  but  follow  the  thread  of 
that  great  tale  which  left  its  eternal  marks  upon  the 
bodies  of  thousands  of  American  citizens. 

Passed  the  day  in  quiet  amid  the  music  of  the  end 
less  rain  drops.  Gen.  McClellan  had  been  led  to 
believe  that  a  stand  would  be  made  on  the  banks  of 
the  historic  Chickahominy.  On  arrival  at  Bottom's 
bridge  it  was  found  destroyed  and  the  engineers  be 
gan  at  once  to  rebuild  it.  Orders  came  to  cross  the 
Chickahominy  for  a  reconnoissance.  Col.  Brown  be 
ing  sick,  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  was  in  command  of  the 
One  Hundredth.  Moved  across  the  new  bridge 
cautiously,  and  about  one  mile  beyond,  halting  behind 
a  hastily  thrown  up  intrenchment.  The  weather  was 
very  warm  and  muggy.  At  3  P.  M.  ordered  back  to 
camp  to  get  our  baggage;  returned  with  baggage 
about  9  P.  M. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.          57 

The  sick  were  increasing  in  numbers.  Surg.  Kit- 
tenger  and  Asst.  Murray,  with  their  helps,  were  as 
active  for  relief  as  the  limited  means  of  a  moving 
army  would  permit.  Vacant  houses,  and  inhabited 
houses,  were  taken  for  the  use  of  the  increasing  sick 
along  the  route. 

Ordered  forward  in  the  rain.  Moved  into  the  wood 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  and  stopped  an  hour. 
Again  ordered  forward,  and  marched  about  two 
miles,  raining  most  of  the  time.  Bivouacked  in  the 
edge  of  a  fine  wood  fronting  a  fine  open  field,  where 
our  troops  skirmished  with  the  enemy  during  the  fore 
noon.  A  few  men  were  killed  and  wounded.  Adjt. 
Chadwick  was  detailed  as  aid  to  Gen.  Naglee. 

Sunday,  May  25th.  Beautiful  morn.  The  army 
was  extremely  vigilant.  Gen.  Naglee  had  a  short 
skirmish  with  the  enemy.  During  the  engagements 
of  the  skirmishers  near  Savage  Station,  the  rebels 
opened  a  battery,  and  the  shelling  continued  for 
several  hours.  Soon  our  artillery  advanced,  sup 
ported  by  infantry,  and  drove  them  from  the  field  in 
confusion.  Naglee  prepared  to  follow,  but  Gen. 
Keyes  ordered  no  further  pursuit.  The  victory  was 
with  us.  The  enemy  had  a  man  stationed  in  the  top 
of  a  tree,  at  the  upper  corner  of  the  wood  to  direct  the 
fire  of  their  artillery.  One  of  our  batteries  trained  a 
gun  on  the  tree,  and  at  the  first  fire  brought  him 
down.  Gen.  ^aglee  had  two  horses  killed  by  the 
enemy's  sharpshooters. 

Our  picket  line  was  now  advanced  to  a  point  within 


58          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

five  miles  of  Richmond.  The  bulk  of  the  army  was 
within  seven  miles  of  the  city.  Weather  cool.  Bag 
gage  sent  to  the  rear,  as  a  battle  was  expected  at  any 
time.  Pickets  advanced  two  miles.  Gen.  Naglee  is 
a  perfect  steam  engine.  He  was  seen  constantly  on  his 
horse,  here,  there,  and  everywhere.  The  General 
visited  pickets,  and  while  viewing,  the  enemy  fired 
four  shots,  one  breaking  between  Gen.  Naglee  and 
Maj.  Otis.  Gen.  Naglee  took  six  sharpshooters  from 
the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  and  skirmished  through 
a  wood  on  our  right,  and  shot  one  man.  The  whole 
regiment  went  out  on  picket.  Two  companies  were 
posted  farther  in  advance  than  others  on  the  railroad, 
and  three  companies  were  held  in  reserve,  while  Col. 
Brown  posted  the  remaining  five  companies  on  the 
right.  Tents  were  pitched  and  the  men  were  making 
themselves  comfortable  for  the  night,  when  an  order 
came  relieving  us.  Assembled  on  the  railroad  and 
waited  in  the  rain  till  all  the  pickets  were  relieved. 
It  was  now  dark,  when  the  regiment  marched  one 
mile  to  the  rear  and  bivouacked  for  the  night ;  rained 
very  hard  during  the  night,  and  the  men  were  very 
wet. 

The  appearance  of  the  camp  of  the  One  Hundredth 
the  morning  of  May  27th  was  a  sight  not  to  be  for 
gotten.  Men  lying  flat  in  the  mud  and  rain  fast 
asleep,  clothing  soaked,  food  dampened,  and  guns  in 
a  questionable  condition  for  execution.  Cleared  off 
at  11  A.  M.  Lay  in  camp  all  day.  The  men  dried 
their  clothing  and  cleaned  their  arms,  then  drew  two 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          59 

days'  rations,  and  also  a  ration  of  whisky,  the  effects 
of  which  were  quickly  seen.  Heavy  firing  all  day  on 
the  right. 

Thursday,  May  29th.  Ordered  under  arms  at  5-J- 
A.  M.,  marched  at  8.  Moved  half  a  mile.  Encamped 
on  brigade  line.  Entire  brigade  on  picket  and  fatigue 
duty.  Rebels  fired  several  shells  at  our  pickets.  The 
enemy  were  reconnoitering  and  were  skirmishing  with 
our  picket  line.  There  was  constant  firing  between 
the  pickets  of  the  two  armies,  and  the  casualties  fre 
quent.  The  rebels  were  seen  on  the  Richmond  road 
in  large  numbers.  They  fired  shell  at  every  horse 
man  that  made  his  appearance.  An  engine  came  to 
the  station  at  night  bringing  New  York  papers  of  the 
27th  May. 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th,  the  rebels  attacked 
our  pickets  on  the  Williamsburg  road,  in  force, 
killing  two  of  our  men  and  wounding  others.  They 
drove  our  pickets,  and  were  driven  in  turn,  leaving 
six  dead  on  the  field,  but  carrying  oif  their  wounded. 
Col.  Brown  being  general  officer  of  the  day,  led  the 
pickets  to  the  charge.  The  numerical  strength  of  the 
One  Hundredth  Regiment,  previous  to  engaging  in 
the  battle  of  the  31st,  was  six  hundred  and  forty-six 
men  fit  for  duty. 

The  night  of  the  30th  of  May,  will  long  be  remem 
bered  by  the  old  army  of  the  Potomac  on  account  of 
the  fearful  storm  that  prevailed.  The  rain  fell  in 
torrents,  the  lightning  flashed  with  unusual  vividness, 
and  the  thunder  was  fearful.  It  would  have  required 


60          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

no  great  stretch  of  the  imagination  to  believe  a  great 
battle  was  going  on  between  the  opposing  armies. 
The  storm  seemed  prophetic  of  the  terrible  engage 
ment  that  followed.  The  country  was  flooded  with 
water,  and  the  low  swampy  ground  was  converted 
into  an  almost  impassable  morass.  The  Chicka- 
hominy  overflowed  its  banks,  and  threatened  the 
destruction  of  all  the  bridges.  Bottom's  bridge,  the 
reliable  connection  between  the  two  wings  of  the 
army,  was  much  damaged. 

The  morning  of  May  31st  was  thick  and  misty. 
Taking  advantage  of  the  unfavorable  connection  of 
the  two  wings  of  our  army,  and  apparently  cut  off 
by  the  rapid  rise  in  the  river,  and  the  partial  destruc 
tion  of  the  bridges,  the  enemy  determined  to  fall  upon 
and  crush  the  left  wing  before  reinforcements  could 
arrive.  For  this  purpose  the  grand  divisions  of  Gens. 
Hill,  Huger,  Longstreet  and  G.  "W.  Smith,  of  nearly 
thirty  thousand  men,  were  to  be  hurled  upon  Casey's 
weak  division  on  that  bloody  day. 

At  11^  A.  M.  three  shells  fired  from  the  enemy's 
lines  fell  within  our  camps,  the  signal,  as  we  after 
ward  learned,  for  the  movement  to  begin.  An  hour 
afterward  his  troops  commenced  to  drive  in  our 
pickets  on  the  Williamsburg  road.  Soon  the  enemy 
came  crushing  through  the  woods  and  bushes  to  our 
first  line  of  battle.  The  One  Hundredth  was  ordered 
under  arms,  then  stacked  arms,  and  got  dinner,  but 
soon  were  ordered  forward,  as  the  firing  was  becoming 
continuous  and  general. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          61 


CHAPTER   VII. 

THE  SOLDIER'S  FIEST  BATTLE.  —  ITS  EFFECT  UPON  HIM. 

ITS    RESULTS. THE     POSITION    OF   CASEY'S    DIVISION. 

-THE  SIGNAL  OF  THE  ENEMY  TO  OPEN  THE 

FIGHT. THE  CHARGE  OF  NAGLEE^S  BRIGADE. THE 

ONE  HUNDREDTH  ON  THE  LEFT  OF  RICHMOND  ROAD. 

ITS  CHARGE  THROUGH  THE  SLASHING. THE  LOSS 

OF  COL.  BROWN,  LIEUT.  WILKESON  AND  KELLOGG. 

—  THE  BACKWARD  MOVEMENT.  ENCAMPED  ONE 

AND  A  HALF  MILES  IN  THE  REAR  OF  OUR  FORMER 
CAMP. 

The  soldier  does  not  live  who  can  ever  forget  his 
first  battle.  That  brief,  though  significant  order,  "  Fall 
in."  The  preparation,  the  movement,  the  deployment 
of  skirmishers,  the  thrilling  suspense  preceding  the 
first  shot,  the  hissing  and  explosion  of  the  first  shell, 
the  first  volley  of  our  skirmishers,  the  low,  decided 
order  of  the  commander  to  advance.  Then  the  suc 
cessive  volleys  and  simultaneous  roar  of  artillery  and 
small  arms,  together  with  the  appalling  sight  of  the 
wounded  carried  to  the  rear,  while  the  calm  colorless 
faces  of  the  heroic  dead,  upturned  to  Heaven's  blue, 


62          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

silent  so  soon  after  viewing  sky,  sun  and  plain,  never 
to  be  seen  by  the  soldier  again. 

Long,  weary  and  fatiguing  had  been  the  marches 
along  the  Peninsula.     The  One  Hundredth  Kegiment 
was  being  acclimated,  as  well  as  taking  its  first  lessons 
in  the  art  and  experience  of  real  war.     The  slow  ad 
vance  had   been   anything  but   encouraging  to  raw 
troops,  and  was  of  a  character  to  dampen,  in  a  great 
degree,  that  patriotic  fervor  so  necessary  to  the  success 
of  any  cause,  however  just  and  holy.    Casey's  division, 
of  which  the  One  Hundredth  formed  a  part,  had  been 
pushed  to  the  extreme  front.     From  the  near  proxim 
ity  to  the  rebel  pickets,  and  the  almost  daily  encount 
ers  on  the  picket  line  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  a 
bloody  battle  was  imminent.     The  incessant  toil  of 
the  troops,  and  their  constant  vigilance,  had  caused 
much  weariness  and  indifference.     The  frequency  of 
alarms  had  increased  watchfulness,  but  it  was  evident 
that  officers  were  not  in  expectation  of  a  battle  so  soon. 
Temporary  works  were  advanced  to  completion.     But, 
as  related,  the  signal   had   been  given.     The  troops 
were  under  arms.     Three  companies  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  were  on  picket,  Co.  "  D,"  Capt.  Payne ;    Co. 
"  E,"  Capt.  Bailey ;  Co.  "  F,"  Capt.  Rauert ;   so  that 
the  available  force  of  the  regiment  in  action  was  less 
than  four  hundred  men. 

The  diagram  of  the  battle  field  of  Seven  Pines, 
drawn  by  Maj.  C.  N.  Otis,  and  engraved  in  this  city 
by  E.  R.  Jewett  &  Co.,  for  the  Courier,  of  the  position 
of  the  opposing  lines,  is  as  accurate  as  could  have  been 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.         63 

secured  in  time  of  peace.  The  enemy's  forces,  his 
picket  line,  as  well  as  that  of  the  National's,  the  exact 
position  of  Casey's  division,  particularly  that  of  Nag- 
lee's  brigade,  the  felled  timber,  the  rail  fence,  the  rifle 
pits,  redoubt,  position  of  batteries,  with  the  camp  of 
the  One  Hundredth  New  York,  Eleventh  Maine,  Fifty- 
second  Pennsylvania  and  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Pennsylvania,  are  all  shown  with  faithful  precision. 
On  the  31st  of  May  there  was  to  be  no  more  feints, 
but  a  steady  advance  to  success  and  victory,  or  defeat 
and  disaster.  The  One  Hundredth  was  on  the  left  of 
the  Eichmond  road.  The  remainder  of  the  brigade 
was  on  the  right.  Casey's  division  did  not  number 
more  than  six  thousand  men,  and  yet  this  gallant  band 
sustained  the  shock,  for  hours,  of  nearly  thirty  thousand 
rebel  troops.  The  story  of  this  fight  has  been  often 
told.  Lieut.  Granger,  in  a  communication  to  the 
Commercial  Advertiser  of  June  8th,  1862,  gives,  per 
haps,  as  accurate  an  account  of  the  battle  and  the 
ways  of  its  workings,  as  has  been  given,  though  it  is 
impossible  for  one  mind,  when  in  the  whirlwind  of 
ruin  and  death,  to  delineate  all  the  currents  and  forces 
which  ultimate  appalling  results.  It  is  not  our  de 
sign  to  describe  this  battle,  about  which  so  much  has 
been  said,  and  so  many  conflicting  opinions  given. 
Yet  from  all  the  descriptions  written,  there  are  undis 
puted  facts  which  can  be  stated  as  axioms  of  history. 
And  many  such  can  be  said  of  the  brave  One  Hun 
dredth  Eegiment  on  that  eventful  day.  The  One 
Hundredth  was  the  first  into  the  fight.  Its  commander, 


64          One  Hundredth  N.  T.  8.  Volunteers. 

Col.  James  M.  Brown,  as  the  sequel  proved,  was  a 
fighting  man,  and  the  same  spirit  was  infused  into  the 
men  under  his  command.  To  him  it  was  a  fight  to 
death,  and  his  record  is  unmistakable,  for  it  was  said 
of  him  that  "  lie  was  a  lion  in  battle"  Though  works 
of  defence  had  been  constructed,  still  these  new  troops 
were  advanced  beyond  them  over  the  open  space  and 
ordered  to  charge  through  slashing,  which,  in  military, 
is  thought  to  be  a  barrier  between  the  advancing  and 
resisting  troops.  The  order  to  charge  had  been  given, 
and  Col.  Brown  shouted,  "Charge  the  One  Hundredth  " 
and  four  regiments  of  Naglee's  Brigade  did  charge 
most  gallantly,  though  with  no  decisive  advantage,  ex 
cept  to  gain  time,  by  checking  the  crowded  masses  of 
the  rebels,  and  wear  away  the  day,  that  Sumner  and 
Heintzelman  might  arrive  in  time  to  save  what  re 
mained  of  Casey's  division  from  being  totally  ex 
terminated. 

But  it  was  madness  to  hold  out  longer  against  the 
rebel  hosts.  The  order  was  given  to  retreat ;  and  now, 
as  these  heroes  turned  to  pass  over  and  under  fallen 
trees,  and  through  tangled  thickets,  the  work  of  death 
really  commenced.  It  was  now  that  brave  and  loyal 
men  were  destroyed.  Though  Col.  Brown  had  de 
nounced  the  order  to  charge,  when  given,  knowing 
that  it  would  be  fatal,  still  with  a  smile  and  hurrah  he 
led  his  brave  men  against  the  rebel  lines,  which  were 
made  to  recoil  with  admiration  of  such  unparalleled 
bravery. 

Here  fell  Lieuts.  Kellogg  and  Wilkeson,  killed,  and 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          65 

Capt.  Nash,  and  Lieut.  Mayo,  and  Lieut.  Brown, 
wounded,  with  scores  of  men  on  every  hand.  The 
last  seen  of  Col.  Brown  he  was  making  an  effort  to 
rally  the  scattered  fugitives  and  make  resistance  to 
the  last.  If  he  did  not  seek  death,  at  least  he  seemed 
determined  to  inflict  as  much  punishment  upon  the 
enemies  of  his  country  as  this,  his  last,  opportunity  af 
forded.  Other  officers  were  wounded  and  made  pris 
oners.  Lieut.  Granger  was  struck  with  a  piece  of 
shell,  hitting  the  buckle  of  his  belt,  and  knocking  him 
down,  though  resulting  in  no  permanent  injury. 
Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  was  struck  with  a  spent  ball  in 
the  side,  glancing  from  one  of  his  ribs  without  pene 
trating.  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  affirms  that  when  the 
enemy  appeared  in  a  dense  mass  from  the  woods  with 
banners  flying,  resistance  was  useless,  since  the  hand 
ful  that  now  remained  of  Casey's  division  could  not 
check  for  a  moment  the  impetus  of  overwhelming 
numbers.  Maj.  Otis,  though  not  a  regular  army  offi 
cer,  in  the  explanation  of  the  diagram  drawn  by  him 
of  the  battle  field,  says  :  "  Our  regiment  was  the  only 
one  of  the  First  Brigade  that  was  deployed  on  the  left 
of  the  Kichmond  road,  and  the  only  one  that  was 
placed  in  the  centre  of  a  slashing  on  either  side  of  the 
road ;  and  as  slashings  are  intended  as  obstacles,  placed 
in  front  of  a  certain  position,  I  have  not  yet  been  able 
to  comprehend  the  precise  object  in  placing  our  regi 
ment  between  it  and  the  enemy." 

It  will  be  seen  at  a  glance  that  the  order  sending 
the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  through  that  slashing, 


66          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

cost  it  and  the  country  the  future  services  of  brave 
officers  and  men.  It  would  seem  that  commanding 
generals  could  have  had  no  conception  of  the  disparity 
of  forces  on  the  ground,  or  if  they  had  they  were  reck 
less  of  the  lives  of  loyal  and  .heroic  men.  But  the 
fatal  error  had  "been  committed.  The  deed  of  death 
had  been  delivered.  The  One  Hundredth  Kegiment 
had  gone  to  the  sacrifice,  though  without  dishonor. 
Its  decimated  ranks  told  of  its  brave  resistance.  The 
division  had  been  forced  back  beyond  its  camps,  which 
were  taken  by  the  enemy.  To  them  belonged  the 
spoils.  The  arrival  of  fresh  troops  checked  their  ad  - 
vance,  and  night  closed  upon  the  bloody  day,  the  bat 
tle  of  "  Seven  Pines." 

The  companies  on  picket  were  not  without  their 
sad  experiences.  Lieut.  Newell  of  Co.  "  D "  and 
twelve  men  were  cut  off,  while  Capt.  Payne,  with  ad 
mirable  skill  and  coolness,  saved  the  balance  of  his 
company.  Capt.  Bailey  and  Second  Lieut.  Timothy 
Lynch  were  taken  prisoners.  Capt.  Rauert  and  many 
men  of  companies  "  E "  and  "  F "  escaped  being 
taken  by  the  rebels. 

We  should  be  pleased  to  transcribe  the  letters  writ 
ten  by  Maj.  Otis,  Capt.  Morse  and  Lieut.  Granger,  of 
this  sad  day's  fight,  but  the  plan  of  this  work  will  not 
admit.  We  have  relied  upon  them  for  the  facts.  The 
regiment  counted  as  the  loss  of  that  day,  one  hundred 
and  eighty-two  men  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 


DANIEL  D. MASH. 

Major.lOOthN.YS.Vois. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  £  Volunteers.          67 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE  CONDUCT  OF  GEN.  CASEY'S  DIVISION  AS  GIVEN  BY  COL. 
DAVIS  OF  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FOURTH  PENNSYL 
VANIA.  ITS  REPUTATION  SUSTAINED.  ITS  LOSSES 

PROVE  ITS  BRAVERY. THE  LONG  HOURS  IT  HELD  THE 

ENEMY  IN  CHECK  SHOWS  ITS  STUBBORN  COURAGE. ITS 

DEFEAT  BY  OVERWHELMING  NUMBERS. THE  CON 
DUCT  OF  GENS.  CASEY  AND  NAGLEE. THEIR  BRAV 
ERY  AND  ENTHUSIASM. THE  BATTLE  FIELD. THE 

BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD  AND  CARE  OF  WOUNDED. 

The  conduct  of  Casey's  division  at  Fair  Oaks  has 
been  severely  and  most  unjustly  criticised.  And  here 
we  wish  to  give  the  opinion  of  Col.  Davis  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania,  who  had  com 
manded  the  brigade  to  which  the  One  Hundredth  was 
attached  before  the  assignment  of  Gen.  Naglee,  and 
whose  opportunities  of  knowing  facts  and  causes  were 
ample,  relative  to  the  action  of  Casey's  division  on 
that  sanguinary  day.  Gen.  McClellaii's  telegraphic  re 
port  stated  that  it  gave  way  "  unaccountably  and  dis 
creditably."  This  report  was  made  on  the  strength  of 
information  furnished  by  Gen.  Heintzelman  the  eve- 


68          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

ning  of  the  battle.  He  sent  a  dispatch  about  9  P.  M.  to 
McClellan,  stating  that  when  he  got  to  the  front,  "  the 
most  of  Gen.  Casey's  Division  had  dispersed,"  and  that 
he  "  saw  no  reason  why  we  should  have  been  driven 
back."  So  far  as  Gen.  Heintzelman  is  concerned,  it 
may  be  asked  whether  he  was  in  a  position  to  judge 
of  the  conduct  of  Casey's  division.  I  do  not  think  he 
was.  He  was  not  on  the  field  where  the  heavy  fight 
ing  was  done  that  afternoon.  His  headquarters  were 
several  miles  in  the  rear,  toward  White  Oak  Swamp, 
and  by  reason  of  delay,  the  request  for  reinforcements 
did  not  reach  him  until  about  3  P.  M.,  and  it  was  5 
P.  M.  when  his  advance  arrived  at  our  then  front. 

"  The  battle  had  then  been  progressing  four  hours, 
and  was  nearly  over ;  the  enemy  was  in  possession  of 
the  camps  of  both  Casey's  and  Couch's  divisions,  and 
the  troops  of  Heintzelman  did  not  get  nearer  than 
half  a  mile  of  the  grounds  on  which  Casey  fought  for 
two  hours  before  he  was  driven  back.  By  5  P.  M. 
he  had  his  headquarters  established  in  the  yard  at  Mr. 
Savage's  house,  three  miles  from  the  field,  where  a 
part  of  his  staff,  at  least,  remained  the  afternoon  ;  and 
admitting  that  he  went  as  far  toward  the  front  as  his 
troops,  which  is  not  often  the  case  with  corps  com 
manders,  he  was  not  in  a  very  good  position  to  judge 
why  Casey  '  was  driven  back.'  Neither  he  nor  his 
troops  saw  the  most  stubborn  fighting  of  the  day. 
Heintzelman  has  the  reputation  of  being  the  enemy 
of  Gen.  Casey,  a  reason,  with  many,  why  he  could  not 
see  how  he  came  to  be  i  driven  back.'  The  official 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.          69 

report  tells  why,  it  says :  '  The  enemy  came  on  in  a 
heavy  force,  attacking  Gen.  Casey  simultaneously  in 
front  and  on  both  flanks.'  Gen.  Naglee's  brigade, 
with  the  batteries  of  Gen.  Casey's  division,  which  Gen. 
Naglee  directed,  struggled  gallantly  to  maintain  the 
redoubt  and  rifle  pits  against  the  overwhelming  mas 
ses  of  the  enemy.  They  were  reinforced  by  one  regi 
ment  from  Gen.  Peck's  brigade.  The  left  of  this 
position  was,  however,  soon  turned,  and  a  sharp  cross 
fire  opened  upon  the  gunners  and  the  men  in  the  rifle 
pits ;  some  of  the  guns  in  the  redoubt  were  taken,  and 
the  whole  line  was  driven  back  upon  the  position  oc 
cupied  by  Gen.  Couch.  Gen.  McClellan,  very  clearly 
answers  the  question  :  Casey's  division  '  was  driven 
back  by  the  overwhelming  masses  of  the  enemy.'  If 
Gen.  Hintzelman  had  made  proper  inquiry  of  those 
who  knew,  he  would  not  have  had  occasion  to  send 
that  unjust  dispatch.  Gen.  McClellan  corrected  his 
first  erroneous  impression  of  the  conduct  of  Casey's 
division,  but  so  far  as  I  am  informed,  lieintzelman 
never  has.  If  more  testimony  were  required  on  the 
point  we  have  it  in  the  return  of  the  casualties  of  that 
day.  The  total  loss  is  five  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  thirty-seven,  of  which  Keyes'  corps,  consisting  of 
the  divisions  of  Casey  and  Couch,  sustained  three  thou 
sand  one  hundred  and  twenty,  while  the  loss  of  all  the 
rest  of  the  army  was  but  two  thousand  six  hundred 
and  seventeen.  Casey's  weak  division  alone  sustained 
a  loss  of  about  seventeen  hundred,  one-third  of  the  en 
tire  casualties  on  that  bloody  day. 


70          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

"  These  facts  speak  for  themselves,  and  an  unpreju 
diced  public  can  determine  whether  there  was  a  reason 
for  the  division  giving  wTay.  Gen.  Heintzelman  'saw 
no  reason,'  because  he  was  not  in  the  proper  place  to 
see  it.  The  losses  are  evidence  that  the  division  did 
not  retire  without  making  proper  resistance.  That 
night  Heintzelman  took  a  train  at  Savage's  Station 
and  went  down  to  Cold  Harbor  to  visit  the  General- 
in-Chief. 

"  If  other  evidence  is  wanting  it  is  fortunately  at 
hand.  It  comes  from  those  who  were  then  our  ene 
mies,  and  their  testimony  is  supposed  to  be  at  least  dis 
interested.  Col.  Switzer,  of  Gen.  McClellan's  staff, 
who  had  charge  of  the  exchange  of  prisoners  on  James 
river,  in  the  fall  of  1862,  says,  that  in  a  conversation 
with  Maj.  Gen.  Hill,  who  commanded  the  rebel  ad 
vance  at  <  Seven  Pines,'  or  Fair  Oaks,  he  asked  that 
general's  opinion  respecting  the  conduct  of  Gen.  Casey's 
troops  in  that  fight.  Gen.  Hill  said  :  '  I  know  Gen. 
Casey's  division  has  been  censured,  but  we  are  sur 
prised  at  it.  The  division  fought  as  well  as  I  ever 
want  to  see  men  fight,  and  after  it  gave  way  before 
our  superior  numbers,  we  had  nothing  more  to  fight.' 
What  further  testimony  can  one  desire  ?  Justice  is 
done.  In  closing,  Col.  Davis  pays  a  just  tribute  to 
Gens.  Casey  and  Naglee.  The  former  sat  on  his  iron 
gray  horse,  on  the  Williamsburg  road,  in  the  thickest 
of  the  fight,  encouraging  his  troops.  He  was  right  up 
at  the  front  where  division  commanders  do  not  always 
go.  In  his  exposed  situation  it  was  a  miracle  how  he 


One  Hundredth  N.  T.  8.  Volunteers.          71 

escaped  the  storm  of  bullets.  Xaglee  was  everywhere. 
He  is  a  sort  of  thunderbolt  in  battle.  He  was  away 
on  the  extreme  right  of  our  lines  when  the  volley  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania  announced 
that  the  battle  had  begun  on  the  left.  He  came  dash 
ing  toward  us  through  field  and  wood  to  be  with  his 
brigade.  In  the  warmest  of  the  contest  he  dashed  by 
the  regiment,  cap  in  hand,  the  men  giving  him  three 
hearty  cheers,  and  passed  toward  the  left.  He  was  now 
seen  directing  a  battery,  nowr  rallying  a  regiment,  and 
u  ntil  the  battle  ended  he  was  in  the  midst  of  it  wher 
ever  he  could  be  of  service.  These  two  officers  retain, 
in  a  large  degree,  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
men  who  served  under  them." 

We  have  given  these  words  of  Col.  Davis,  relative 
to  the  much  mooted  question  of  the  conduct  of  Gen. 
Casey's  division  on  the  31st  of  May ;  first,  because  we 
wish  to  place  on  record  in  this  unpretentious  volume, 
the  most  reliable  and  truthful  exposition  of  a  matter 
involving  the  bravery  and  patriotism  of  so  large  a 
number  of  loyal  and  courageous  men ;  and  secondly, 
that  the  friends  of  the  regiment  and  the  cause  might 
know  at  this  late  hour  and  date,  the  unprejudiced  story 
of  a  division  of  martyrs  that  for  hours  sustained  almost 
alone  the  shock  of  nearly  thirty  thousand  rebel  soldiers. 

That  sorrowful  night  the  regiment  encamped  on 
the  very  ground  it  had  occupied  one  week  before. 
About  two  hundred  and  ten  men  had  been  collected, 
and  lay  resting  upon  their  arms.  The  regiment  had 
lost  its  camp  equipage  and  baggage,  and  the  officers 


72          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

most  of  their  personal  effects.  Details  were  ordered 
to  the  battle  field  to  identify  and  bury  the  dead.  The 
day  was  hot  and  sultry  ;  says  an  eye  witness :  "  Never 
can  the  recollection  of  that  field  be  effaced  from  the 
memory  of  those  who  witnessed  it  on  that  day.  The 
weather  being  extremely  hot,  with  frequent  showers, 
the  dead  had  become -bloated  and  swollen,  until  their 
clothes  could  scarcely  contain  them;  the  blood  still 
oozing  from  gaping  wounds,  the  ground  saturated  with 
gore ;  flies  in  myriads  swarmed  around ;  dead  horses 
with  saddles  and  harness  unfastened;  broken  guns, 
remains  of  camps,  with  the  food  cooked  for  Saturday's 
dinner  untouched  ;  the  air  polluted  with  stifling  odors 
arising  from  decomposing  bodies ;  wounded  men  in 
the  agonies  of  death,  all  tended  to  make  the  heart 
sick  and  the  soul  shudder  at  the  sight." 

The  dead  were  buried  and  the  wounded  cared  for 
as  well  as  the  limited  means  of  surgeons  and  friends 
could  command.  The  news  of  the  Fair  Oaks  slaughter 
shook  with  grief  thousands  of  homes.  Parental  solici 
tude  tended  to  the  extreme  of  pain  and  agony.  War 
with  its  dark  and  bloody  cloud  hung  over  the  Nation, 
and  the  victims  demanded  would  cover  the  land  in 
sackcloth,  and  fill  it  with  wailings  and  mournings. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.          73 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  REBELS  ATTACK  THE 

M'CLELLAN  VISITS  THE  TROOPS. —  BRIGADE  INSPECTION. 
WEATHER  RAINY  AND  COLD. A  REAR  MOVEMENT 

COMMENCED.  RAID    OF    THE    REBELS.  BATTLE    OF 

"  OAK  GROVE." BATTLE  OF  MECHANICSVILLE. BAT 
TLE  OF  "GAINES'  FARM."-  — M'CLELL AN  CHANGES  BASE 

TO    JAMES    RIVER. GEN.     NAGLEE    IN    COMMAND     OF 

REAR-GUARD. THE  RETREAT  COMMENCED. BRIDGE 

DESTROYED. THE  REBELS  IN  PURSUIT. 

At  5  A.  M.,  Sunday,  June  1st,  the  rebels  made 
an  attack  in  front  upon  the  "  Excelsior  Brigade," 
and  were  repulsed,  with  great  loss  on  both  sides, 
after  two  hours'  hard  fighting.  Heavy  firing  in 
the  distance  on  our  right  and  left  fronts.  Gen.  M  c- 
Clellan  rode  through  the  lines  eliciting  rounds  of  ap 
plause,  lie  says :  "  If  we  will  hold  them  twenty-four 
hours  he  will  be  in  Richmond."  About  1  A.  M. 
ordered  under  arms  at  daybreak,  as  the  enemy  are 
concentrating  on  our  left. 

Monday,  June  2d,  encamped  in  the  woods.  The 
men  dirty,  hungry  and  lame,  and  afflicted  with  the 


74          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

right  of  a  soldier's  crossness.  Three  days  since  the 
great  battle,  and  waiting  momentarily  for  another. 
Orders  for  a  brigade  inspection.  Came  back  to  camp 
about  dark.  Commenced  to  rain,  and  rained  all 
night. 

"Wednesday,  the  4th  of  June,  the  whole  division 
was  ordered  under  arms  for  a  march  back  to  the 
Chickahominy  near  Bottom's  bridge.  Regiment  got 
ready,  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  in  command,  and  moved. 
It  rained  as  it  can  rain  in  "  Old  Virginia."  It  in 
creased  and  continued  till  10  P.  M. 

We  arrived  at  the  rifle  pits,  near  the  right  bank  of 
the  Chickahominy,  after  a  very  severe  and  trying 
march  through  deep  mud,  a  terrible  rain,  fording  the 
stream  with  water  under  the  arm  pits ;  and  more  than 
all,  feeling  the  mortification  of  falling  back  to  the 
rear  of  the  whole  army,  after  having  stood  at  the 
front,  crushed  by  five  times  our  number,  resisting  to 
the  death,  thereby  saving  the  army. 

The  brigade  was  stretched  from  the  rifle  pits  to  Bot 
tom's  bridge.  The  men  lay  down  to  sleep  without  a 
particle  of  shelter  from  the  storm,  except  such  as  the 
bushes  and  trees  afforded.  There  was  neither  mur 
mur  nor  complaint.  The  men  exhibited  a  spirit  of 
fortitude  alike  creditable  to  the  service  and  the  regi 
ment.  The  Fifty-second  Pennsylvania  lay  on  our 
right  and  the  Eleventh  Maine  on  our  left.  Lieut.  Col. 
Staunton  found  his  trunk,  mess  chest  and  bed,  and 
ordered  them  sent  to  the  regiment. 

There  wrere  always  characters  in  every  regiment — 


One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers.          75 

odd  characters,  yet  without  real  reliable  characters. 
The  latter  unfortunately  was  the  case  with  William 
Taylor,  of  Co.  "G."  He  wras  lazy,  and  the  government 
could  not  afford  to  feed  him,  nor  tolerate  his  example. 
He  was  six  feet  three  inches  high,  far  through  his 
pants  and  coat  sleeves ;  government  shoes  were  not  of 
the  requisite  proportions  to  meet  his  wants,  and  hence 
the  order  was  given  to  drum  him  out  of  camp  to  the 
tune  of  the  rogue's  march.  The  regiment  wras  drawn 
up  in  line,  and  then  and  there  did  William  Taylor 
pass  in  review,  with  a  much  worn  straw  hat  to  cover 
his  head  of  shocked  hair,  and  that  wo-begone  counte 
nance  of  abstraction  which  says,  "  What  next."  He  left 
for  parts  unknown. 

The  officers  and  men  felt  badly  relative  to  the  first 
dispatch  of  Gen.  McClellan,  of  the  battle  of  the  31st 
of  May.  Later  the  clouds  cleared  and  the  right  pre 
vailed.  Whole  number  of  men  for  duty,  four  hundred 
and  seventy-five.  Capt.  Charles  E.  Morse  reported 
for  duty,  having  been  left  sick  at  Warwick  Court 
House. 

June  7th.  Cold,  damp  and  chilly,  though  the  regi 
ment  is  doing  its  share  of  guard  and  fatigue  duty. 

Sunday,  June  8th.  Firing  on  the  right.  Dr.  O.  F. 
Presbrey  and  John  Wilkeson,  Esq.,  came  into  camp. 
Religious  services  were  held.  Chaplain  of  the  Fifty- 
second  Pennsylvania  officiated. 

Monday,  June  9th.  Held  a  regimental  inspection. 
Five  hundred  and  one  men,  including  sick  and  those 
detailed  for  camp  service.  Weather  damp,  with  cold 


76          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

wind.  Monday  commenced  to  rain,  and  continued 
cold  and  very  disagreeable,  all  of  which  proved  fatal  to 
Gen.  McClellan's  proposed  advance.  Maj.  Otis'  horse 
strayed  away.  Commenced  drilling  for  the  first  time 
since  the  battle.  Enemy  hovering  in  force  on  our  left. 
Weather  warm.  Orders  to  be  ready  to  inarch  at  a 
moment's  notice.  Gen.  Naglee  made  a  reconnoissance 
on  the  left  and  found  the  rebels  in  large  force.  Troops 
are  arriving  in  large  numbers  all  along  the  line  every 
hour. 

Heavy  guns  .opened  rapidly  on  the  right  about  sun 
rise,  Friday,  June  13th,  and  continued  for  two  hours. 
The  rebels  made  a  raid  with  about  two  hundred  men 
over  the  Chickahominy  and  destroyed  a  station  house, 
tore  up  some  track,  took  a  few  prisoners  and  left.  It 
was  conducted  by  the  rebel  general  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  of 
cavalry  fame,  more  for  information  than  advantage. 

Sunday,  June  15th,  Lieut.  Col.  Stauiiton  was  ordered 
to  send  two  hundred  men  over  the  Chickahominy  to 
guard  the  wagons  till  sunrise.  Maj.  Otis  was  in  com 
mand.  Lyman  B.  Smith  arrived  in  camp.  Weather 
cold  and  rainy.  The  whole  country  a  vast  swamp, 
while  the  roads  appear  as  streams  of  lava,  almost  im 
passable.  The  elements  work  against  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

There  was  a  lull  in  military  matters  for  a  few  days, 
and  the  army  had  opportunity  fc>r  rest,  when  off  guard 
duty.  The  Eleventh  Maine  moved  camp.  Heard 
from  Capt.  Moore,  in  Richmond,  who  was  wounded  in 
the  left  shoulder  severely. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          77 

Had  first  dress  parade,  June  19th. 

Thursday,  June  20th.  Paymaster  Dixon  arrived, 
and  commenced  to  pay  off  the  troops.  Second  Lieut. 
Warren  Granger,  Jr.,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  in 
place  of  Lieut.  Wilkeson,  killed,  June  20th,  1862. 
Charles  Shaffer,  First  Sergeant,  promoted  to  Second 
Lieutenant,  June  20th,  1862. 

June  23d.  Col.  Staunton  and  Dr.  Murray  went  to 
"  White  House  "  to  express  money  for  the  regiment. 
Continued  till  dark.  Slept  on  board  boat.  Eeturned 
to  regiment  next  day. 

Gen.  Naglee  desired,  and  urged  the  reorganization 
of  the  regiment  by  consolidation.  Firing  on  the  right 
every  day.  The  battle  of  "  Oak  Grove  "  was  fought 
June  25th  and  26th.  Maj.  Otis  was  ordered  to  super 
intend  the  construction  of  a  redoubt,  to  mount  five 
guns. 

June  28th.  The  regiment  was  sent  on  picket  and 
as  supports.  The  rebels  were  repulsed  at  Mechanies- 
ville.  The  Nationals  were  left  masters  of  the  situa 
tion.  The  advantage  was  not  followed  up,  as  Gen. 
McClellan  had  decided  to  change  his  base  and  by  a 
flank  movement  reach  the  James  river  and  cooperate 
with  Commander  Rodgers  of  the  gunboat  Galena. 

All  wagons  came  across  the  Chickahominy,  on  the 
night  of  the  27th.  Stonewall  Jackson  is  on  the  ground, 
while  the  authorities  at  Washington  think  him  in  the 
Shenandoali  valley.  He  is  ubiquitous.  The  Na 
tionals  are  attacked  at  once,  and  the  battle  at  "  Games' 
Mills  "  resulted  disastrously  to  our  arms,  though  Fitz 


78          One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 

v 

John  Porter  fought  with  desperation  against  great 
odds. 

Regiment  ordered  under  arms  at  dark,  and  worked 
on  redoubt  at  the  bridge.  Six  guns  were  mounted. 
The  order  had  been  given  to  fly  to  the  James  river 
and  not  to  fight.  Droves  of  horses,  troops,  wagons 
and  cattle  crossed  the  bridge,  and  it  was  then  destroyed 
by  order  of  Gen.  Heintzelman.  Gen.  McClellan  was 
at  Savage's  Station  all  day  superintending  the  move 
ment  which  commenced  at  an  early  hour.  The  retreat 
was  accomplished  with  secrecy  and  dispatch.  Gen. 
Lee  was  deceived. 

Gen.  Naglee  had  command  of  the  rear-guard ;  and 
a  brigade  that  had  interposed  itself  between  the  main 
body  of  the  National  army  on  the  31st  of  May  and 
the  Confederate  forces  so  heroically,  was  now  placed  in 
the  position  of  honor.  They  had  been  tried,  defamed, 
sustained  and  applauded,  and  now  were  the  trusted 
hundreds  to  guard  the  shattered  columns  of  a  once  un 
broken  army.  After  the  battle  of  "  Games'  Farm  "  a 
legion  of  stragglers  arrived  from  the  battle  fields. 
Gen.  Naglee  was  informed,  and  asked  what  should  be 
done  with  them.  He  replied,  "  Send  them  to  Ileintzel- 
man,  and  tell  him  they  are  not  Nagleds  men  this  time" 

Lieut.  Rodney  B.  Smith,  of  Co.  "  II,"  was  reported 
missing  after  the  battle  of  "  Games'  Farm,"  and  is  sup 
posed  to  have  been  killed,  or  taken  prisoner  and  died, 
as  no  tidings  have  ever  reached  the  regiment  or  friends 
of  his  fate. 

Part  of  the  One  Hundredth  remained  as  reserves  be- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          79 

tween  Bottom's  bridge  and  the  railroad  all  day,  the 
29th,  in  a  state  of  painful  suspense,  not  knowing 
whether  the  battle  then  raging  at  Savage's  Station  was 
a  success  or  defeat.  The  rebels  were  in  sight.  Pick 
ets  ordered  in  at  5  P.  M.  Naglee  stood  on  the  defen 
sive.  The  Eleventh  Maine  destroyed  the  railroad 
bridge.  At  Savage's  Station  a  train  of  cars,  loaded 
with  ammunition,  was  started  at  7  P.  M.,  with  slow 
matches  applied,  so  that,  at  its  plunging  into  the  river, 
the  explosion  would  be  instantaneous.  It  was  started^ 
and  exploded  as  it  descended,  with  a  roar  indescriba 
ble.  At  the  same  time  the  enemy  was  engaged  with 
our  rear-guard,  the  main  body  was  changing  base  to 
the  James  river. 


80          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  X. 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED  LEFT  AT  SAVAGE'S  STATION  BY  ORDER 
OP    GEN.    M'CLELLAN.  —  THE    ARMY    HAD   CHANGED 

FRONT    AND    WAS     STILL     MOVING    TO     JAMES     RIVER. 

SURGEON    KITTENGER   LEFT    WITH    THE    WOUNDED 

AND   TAKEN   PRISONER. GEN.  NAGLEE    STILL    HOLDS 

POSITION   IN    COMMAND    OF   THE    REAR-GUARD. REB 
ELS     IN     PURSUIT. THEY     ATTEMPT   TO     STORM     THE 

NATIONAL     BATTERIES     ON     MALVERN     HILLS. THEY 

ARE    REPULSED   WITH   TERRIBLE    LOSS. 

Gen.  McClellan  had  issued  an  order  that  the  sick 
and  wounded  men  who  could  not  in  arc!  i  should  be  left 
at  Savage's  Station  witli  surgeons,  rations,  and  medi 
cal  stores,  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Confederates. 
He  ordered  all  ambulances  to  depart  empty.  In  con 
sequence  of  this  extraordinary  order,  hundreds  of  men 
were  destined  to  languish  in  rebel  prisons  that  might 
have  been  spared  that  terrible  ordeal  of  suffering.  The 
army  had  changed  front.  The  enemy  was  thunder 
ing  at  its  rear.  McClellan  had  twenty-four  hours  the 
start.  The  bridge  was  hardly  destroyed  ere  the  ene 
my's  skirmishers  were  upon  its  opposite  banks.  Their 


One  Himdredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.         81 

batteries  were  run  up  and  opened  upon  our  retreating 
forces.     The  effect  was  terrific.     For  a  little  time  our 
men  thought  the  whole  rebel  army  was  upon  them. 
The  fright  came  near  a  panic  and  a  rout,  but  was 
checked  by  the  cool  action  of  a  few  settled  regiments 
with  decisive  commanders.     The  retreat  was  fairly 
commenced.     In  the  interval  Surg.  Kittenger,  of  the 
One  Hundredth  Kegiment,  had  established  a  hospital 
in  a   dwelling  on    the  Newmarket  road  about   half 
way  to  "Brackett's  Ford."     Two  hundred  wounded 
were  received  there  for  treatment.     The  wounds  were 
generally  very  severe.     Hundreds   of  stragglers  col 
lected  around  this  hospital  and  spent  the  night.    With 
great  difficulty  the  doctor  persuaded  one  hundred  and 
fifty  to  leave  next  morning  at  sunrise  for  the  James 
river.     The  remainder  refused,  and  were  made  prison 
ers.     It  was  a  shameful  exhibition  of  cowardice  and 
demoralization  on  the  part  of  our  troops.     At  9  A.  M., 
Stonewall  Jackson,  with  his  army  marching  by  the 
flank,  passed  along.     Such  was  the  discipline  main 
tained  that  the  men  were  not  allowed  to  leave  ranks 
to  get  water  from  the  well.     Dr.  Kittenger  remained 
with  the  wounded  and  was  taken  prisoner.     When 
Stonewall  Jackson  arrived  at  the  hospital  he  expressed 
astonishment  to  see  so  few  stragglers,  and  asked  the 
doctor  what  had  become  of  them.     He  did  not  know 
that  they  reached  the  James  river  in  advance  of  the 
army.     With  a  victorious  enemy  thundering  at  our 
heels  the  rear  was  no  place  for  them.     Jackson  was  in 
plain  clothes  with  sword  and  sash  as  the  only  signs  of 


82          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

rank  about  him.  He  led  his  men  on  foot.  The  posi 
tion  of  Naglee's  brigade  was  critical.  Not  a  sentinel 
between  the  two  armies  to  give  notice  of  the  approach 
of  the  enemy.  Two  guns  threw  occasional  shots  to 
notify  the  rebels  that  we  still  held  the  ground.  The 
rebels,  with  Jefferson  Davis  and  Stonewall  Jackson  to 
lead  them,  expected  to  bag  and  capture  the  National 
army.  They  were  busily  engaged  rebuilding  the 
bridges. 

Naglee  and  his  little  command  was  still  the  rear 
guard  that  interposed  between  our  retiring  columns 
and  the  pursuing  enemy.  He  was  ordered  to  follow 
at  10  P.  M.  At  that  hour  he  took  up  his  line  of 
march,  as  he  supposed,  with  his  whole  brigade,  but  he 
took  with  him  only  a  part  of  it,  the  Eleventh  Maine, 
Fifty-second  Pennsylvania  and  a  portion  of  the  One 
Hundredth  New  York  Regiments,  leaving  the  Fifty- 
sixth  New  York  and  the  remainder  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  New  York  and  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Pennsylvania  Regiments  on  the  field  doing  sentinel 
duty.  Naglee  did  not  discover  the  mistake  till  he  had 
marched  several  miles ;  to  return  was  impossible. 
The  roads  were  blocked  with  troops.  "What  remained 
of  the  brigade  declined  to  move  without  orders.  Al 
most  within  the  very  jaws  of  the  enemy  it  still  held 
its  post.  It  is  hard  to  tell  how  long  they  might  have 
remained  in  this  dangerous  position  had  not  a  staff 
officer  of  Gen.  Franklin  informed  them  that  the  troops 
had  left  four  hours  before,  and  expressed  his  surprise 
that  they  had  not  followed.  It  was  now  2  o'clock  on 


Om  Hundredth  N.  T.  8.  Volunteers.          83 

the  morning  of  the  1st  of  July.  Col.  YarfWyck  as 
sumed  command,  and  the  march  commenced.  The 
wrong  road  was  taken  and  the  command  was  march 
ing  toward  the  enemy.  The  Colonel  countermarched 
and  hastened  in.  The  column  was  overtaken  by  a 
mounted  officer  who  advised  them  to  "  hurry  up,"  as 
the  enemy  were  near  and  would  attack  at  daylight. 
Several  of  the  officers  and  men  were  too  sick  to  march, 
but  to  fall  behind  was  to  ensure  capture.  Conse 
quently  there  was  110  straggling  among  Kaglee's  men. 
They  reached  Malvern  Hills,  stacked  arms,  lay  down 
to  rest,  as  they  had  marched  fifteen  miles ;  and  within 
an  hour  the  fire  of  the  advance  of  the  rebels  could  be 
heard  as  they  drove  in  our  pickets.  The  rear-guard  of 
Gen.  jS'aglee's  rear-guard  was  saved.  They  had  suf 
fered  an  intensity  of  anguish,  as  those  only  can  appre 
ciate  who  have  been  left  through  mistake  within  the 
reach  of  an  advancing  foe.  The  writer  can  well  sym 
pathize  with  those  officers  and  men,  and  knows  with 
what  joy  that  staff  officer  was  hailed,  as  one  was  hailed 
on  a  similar  occasion  and  on  a  similar  errand.  Such 
episodes,  even  amid  the  stern  realities  of  war,  are 
never  forgotten. 

.  Our  forces  were  advantageously  posted  on  Malvern 
Hills.  ^Numerous  batteries  were  in  position.  The 
gunboat  Galena  was  positioned  for  an  enfilading  fire. 
Gen.  Lee  resolved  to  carry  Malvern  Hills  by  storm, 
and  drive  the  invaders  into  the  James.  Left,  right 
and  center  were  tried.  His  troops  were  repeatedly 
massed  and  forced  to  the  slaughter,  and  as  repeatedly 


84:          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

they  recoiled  in  dismay  and  disorder.  Lee  led  an 
other  assault  on  the  tier  on  tier  of  batteries,  grimly 
visible  on  the  plateau,  and  at  7  P.  M.,  from  the  dark 
pine  forest  they  came  at  double  quick,  with  yelling 
shouts,  but  as  one  brigade  recoiled  another  was  pushed 
forward  with  a  culpable  recklessness  of  human  life, 
which  continued  till  9  P.  M.,  when  the  Confederates 
were  driven  to  the  shelter  of  ravines,  woods  and 
swamps,  utterly  broken  and  despairing.  It  was  a  sav 
ing  of  the  "Army  of  the  Potomac."  Most  officers 
expected  an  advance.  The  rebels  were  shattered  al 
most  to  annihilation,  but  instead  came  the  order  to 
fall  back  still  farther  and  take  up  position  at  Harri 
son's  landing  on  the  James  river.  The  army  stores 
destroyed  at  the  "White  House  wTere  immense.  The 
White  House  itself  did  not  escape  the  fiery  flames. 
Such  quantities  of  elegant  new  tents,  nice  beds  for  the 
sick,  fine  liquors  and  wines,  cordials  and  medicines, 
oranges,  lemons,  beef,  corn,  whisky  ;  immense  quanti 
ties  of  hay ;  boxes  on  boxes  of  clothing,  and  every 
thing  conceivable  for  use  and  comfort  were  committed 
to  the  destroying  element.  All  those,  with  the  large 
supply  of  munitions  of  war,  were  consumed.  The 
devastation,  according  to  the  usages  of  war,  was  com 
plete,  while  the  sick  and  wounded  were  turned  over 
to  the  tender  mercies  of  an  enemy  that  had  not  learned 
to  feel  that  their  own  kinship  might  need  care  and  at 
tention  when  as  prisoners  they  were  found  in  our  hands. 
The  enemy  offered  no  assistance  to  the  wounded 
until  the  4th  of  July,  nor  did  he  send  food  to  the  hos- 


JOHN   WILKESON.JUN. 

Lieut,  and  Brevet  Captain.  100* !»  Re^NYSVols. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          85 

pital  until  the  5th,  when  some  bacon,  a  little  flour  and 
hard  bread  were  received. 

On  the  11  tli  of  July  they  were  removed  to  Eich- 
mond.     The  troops,  hungry  and  exhausted,  were  kept 
constantly  in  motion  to  protect  the  immense  wagon 
train  and  make  sure  their  position  on  the  James.     The 
roads  were  mortar  beds,  and  crowded  with  men,wagons, 
mules  and  baggage.     What  could  not  be  carried  was 
thrown  into  the  mud.     Where  the  mud  was  too  deep 
to   cross   mattresses   were    taken   from   the    hospital 
wagons  for  the  purpose.     Thousands  of  dollars  of  val 
uable  and  useful  baggage  were  thus  destroyed.     Maj. 
Otis  had  charge,  as  officer  of  the  clay,  of  the  pickets 
and  a  working  party  in  the  swamp.     The  remainder 
of  the  regiment  was  waked  and  moved  one  and  a  half 
miles  on  high  ground  in  a  wheat  field. 
Wednesday,  July  2d.     Eained  all  night. 
Thursday,  July  3d.     Men  wet  and  cold.     Eegiment 
ordered  back  to  the  brigade  in  line  of  battle.     Lay  on 
arms  till    night.      At  dark   the    brigade   moved    off 
to  the  left  toward  James  river,  and  encamped  on  dry 
ground. 


86          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XL 

GEN.  M'CLELLAN  VISITS  THE  TROOPS.  —  NAGLEE'S  BRI 
GADE  RECEIVED  HIM  IN  SILENCE.  —  MEN  ENGAGED 
UPON  WORKS  OF  DEFENCE.  —  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN 
ANNOUNCED  TO  VISIT  TROOPS.  —  FAILED  TO  COME. 

—  SENT   REGRETS.  —  COMMUNICATION   FROM    COMMON 
COUNCIL      OF     BUFFALO.    --  DRILLING      AND     FATIGUE 
DUTY.  — REBELS     APPEARED     ON   THE    OPPOSITE    SIDE 
OF     RIVER.  — SOON     DRIVEN    AWAY.  —  GEN.    HOOKER 
SENT  TO  MALVERN  HILLS.— ARMY  ORDERED  TO  MOVE. 

—  MOVEMENT  BEGAN.— BOARD  OF  TRADE  OF  BUFFALO 
ADOPTS   THE    REGIMENT. 

The  flank  and  rear  movement  was  accomplished, 
and  the  army  of  Gen.  McClellan  lay  upon  the  banks 
of  the  James  river. 

Friday,  July  4th,  at  12  M.,  a  National  salute  was 
fired  from  the  gunboats  and  batteries.  Gen.  McClel 
lan  announced  that  he  would  visit  Gen.  Naglee's  bri 
gade  at  2  P.  M.  The  brigade  was  drawn  up  in  line  and 
received  the  Commander-in-Ckief  at  present  arms. 
No  cheering  by  the  brigade.  Their  feelings  had  been 
sorely  injured.  Other  troops  cheered,  but  the  mar- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.          87 

tyrs  at  the  front  and  the  heroes  of  the  rear-guard  were 
silent. 

Harrison's  landing,  or  bar,  is  about  twenty-five 
miles  below  Richmond,  and  within  easy  communica 
tion  with  Fortress  Monroe.  The  army  occupied  a  line 
of  heights  about  two  miles  from  the  river  with  a 
length  of  front  of  nearly  three  miles.  For  three  weeks 
the  whole  force  was  employed  constructing  redoubts, 
entrenchments  and  rifle  pits.  The  men  knew  no  rest 
until  the  position  was  entirely  secure.  Gen.  Naglee's 
brigade  was  on  the  left,  extending  part  of  the  way  from 
the  front  line  down  to  the  river.  The  camps  were 
pitched  in  the  timber,  all  the  brush  having  been 
cleared  away.  Digging  rifle  pits,  wood  chopping  and 
details  for  picket  were  exhausting  the  men. 

Tuesday,  July  Sth.  President  Lincoln  was  to  visit 
the  troops.  Under  arms  to  receive  him  in  a  suitable 
manner.  Failed  to  come  and  sent  regrets. 

Wednesday,  July  9th.  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  mus 
tered  the  regiment  for  pay.  Laid  out  camp  anew  and 
in  regular  order. 

Thursday,  July  10th.  The  regiment  was  ordered 
into  line,  and  a  communication  was  read  from  the 
Common  Council  of  the  city  of  Buffalo,  calling  for  a 
copy  of  the  rolls  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  and 
a  full  list  of  the  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  to  be 
deposited  in  the  archives  of  the  city,  and  that  the 
mayor  convey  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  regi 
ment  the  thanks  of  this  Common  Council  for  the  hero 
ism  and  bravery  manifested  by  them  in  the  recent 


88          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

battle  of  "  Fair  Oaks,"  and  to  assure  them  that  their 
fellow  citizens  at  home  feel  proud  of  the  regiment  and 
of  its  conduct  on  the  31st  of  May,  1862.  An  order  also 
was  read  from  Gen.  McClellan,  together  with  an  ad 
dress  to  the  army,  making  amends  for  that  unjust  dis 
patch  relative  to  Casey's  division.  Rain,  and  regi 
ment  under  arms  fearing  an  attack. 

Sunday,  July  13th.  A  communication  was  re 
ceived  from  Gen.  Lee  that  nothing  is  known  of  the 
fate  of  Col.  Brown.  The  note,  with  explanations,  was 
sent  to  Gov.  Morgan.  Muster  rolls  sent  to  Mayor 
Fargo  in  accordance  with  the  request  of  the  Common 
Council  of  the  city  of  Buffalo. 

Wednesday,  July  16th.  The  regiment  was  ordered 
for  inspection  by  Gen.  Emory.  Indications  of  the 
enemy  hovering  about.  The  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Pennsylvania  sent  on  picket. 

As  division  officer  of  the  day,  Col.  Staunton  visited 
all  the  picket  lines.  A  tempest  of  thunder,  lightning 
and  rain.  The  weather  was  warm.  The  recent  expo 
sures  of  picket  and  fatigue  duty,  with  the  results  of  the 
advance  and  retreat,  were  seen  in  the  squads,  at  sick 
call,  of  pale,  emaciated  men,  drooping  and  dying  from 
disease,  wounds,  and  too  often  unintentional  neglect. 

Tuesday,  July  22d.  Gen.  Keyes  and  staff  inspected 
the  regiment  at  11  A.  M.  The  regiment  did  not  ap 
pear  well  and  the  General  was  not  pleased.  Capt. 
Charles  Henshaw,  of  Co.  "  K,"  resigned  July  20th. 
Regiment  went  out  to  support  pickets.  Regiment 
relieved  by  Gen.  Ferry's  brigade.  Regimental,  bri- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          89 

gade  and  division  drills  were  instituted.  Part  of  the 
time  the  heat  was  so  oppressive  that  the  men  fainted 
in  the  ranks.  It  seemed  to  be  the  delight  of  general 
officers,  in  their  great  desire  for  discipline,  to  crush 
what  vitality  remained  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
that  had  not  been  reached  by  battle,  march  and  ex 
posure. 

The  rebels  caused  an  alarm  in  camp  on  the  evening 
of  July  31st,  by  bringing  down  a  battery  or  two  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  and  opening  upon  our 
camps  and  shipping  at  midnight.  Eegiment  ordered 
under  arms  and  into  the  rifle  pits.  Our  gunboats  re 
plied  and  soon  silenced  him.  Additional  works  were 
constructed.  Dr.  Kittenger  returned  from  Richmond 
a  few  days  before.  Dr.  Sanford  B.  Hunt  had  visited 
the  camp.  Col.  Davis,  who  was  wounded  at  the  bat 
tle  of  Fair  Oaks,  rejoined  his  regiment,  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania,  on  the  evening  of  the 
31st  of  July.  Capt.  Rodgers  had  been  in  command, 
and  the  Colonel  found  his  regiment  in  a  much  better 
condition  than  he  had  a  right  to  expect  after  its  hard 
ships  and  sufferings  in  common  with  the  rest  of  Gen. 
Naglee's  brigade.  The  strength  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  Regiment  at  this  time,  including  all,  was  fif 
teen  officers  and  four  hundred  and  thirty-six  men — 
less  than  half  the  number  that  left  the  city  of  Buffalo, 
March  7th,  nearly  four  short  months  before.  The 
regiment  thus  reduced  in  numbers  must  be  recruited 
or  consolidated.  One  or  the  other  alternative  must 
be  accepted.  The  Commercial  Advertiser  and  Buf- 


90          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

falo  Express  of  this  city  put  forth  patriotic  appeals  to 
the  citizens  that  the  identity  of  the  regiment  be  kept 
intact ;  that  its  ranks  be  filled  at  once,  as  a  pride  and 
a  duty.  The  appeals  were  not  unheeded.  Maj.  Otis, 
writing  to  a  friend  in  this  city,  says :  "I  hope  that 
the  regiment  will  be  recruited  without  delay.  I  de 
sire  nothing  for  myself  that  will  not  benefit  the  regi 
ment.  The  matter  of  being  a  soldier  is  becoming 
more  serious  every  day.  The  mere  making  place  for 
or  the  preventing  of  certain  persons  from  obtaining 
positions,  is  not  the  spirit  that  is  needed  to  bring  this 
unfortunate  contest  to  a  successful  termination.  They 
must  all  yield  to  the  noble  and  higher  motives  of  the 
preservation  of  our  glorious  Union." 

Gen.  Peck  continued  to  drill  the  men  till  many 
succumbed  to  the  sun's  fiery  ordeal.  On  the  4th  of 
August  Gen.  Hooker  was  sent  out  with  his  division 
on  a  reconnoissance,  and  to  make  a  demonstration  to 
Malvern  Hills.  He  succeeded  in  flanking  the  ene 
my's  position  and  compelling  him  to  fall  back.  The 
hills  were  occupied  by  our  troops. 

August  5th.  Second  Lieut.  James  "W.  Simpson,  of 
Co.  "  D,"  resigned.  Everything  indicated  a  move. 

Sunday,  August  10th.  Orders  came  to  march  at  2 
P.  M.,  Monday,  with  two  days'  rations.  Knapsacks 
and  officers'  extra  baggage  sent  off  on  transports.  All 
ready,  packed,  but  no  move,  neither  day  nor  night. 
Capt.  John  Nicholson,  of  Co.  "  C,"  and  Capt.  Charles 
E.  Morse,  of  Co.  "  I,"  with  the  necessary  sergeants 
and  men  were  sent  to  Buffalo  on  recruiting  service  for 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.         91 

the  regiment.  Capt.  P.  Edwin  Dye,  of  Co.  "  II,"  was 
also  home  on  sick  leave,  to  assist  as  soon  as  able,  but 
he  was  confined  till  September  with  typhoid  malarial 
fever.  In  the  meantime  the  Board  of  Trade,  of 
Buffalo,  by  resolution  July  29th,  1862,  adopted  the 
One  Hundredth  Regiment,  and  with  the  enthusiasm 
already  awakened  to  preserve  the  unity  of  the  regi 
ment,  together  with  the  inducements  then  offered  of  a 

/  O 

State  bounty  of  fifty  dollars,  and  one  half  of  the 
United  States  bounty  of  one  hundred  dollars,  with 
two  dollars  for  each  recruit,  the  work  of  adding  to  the 
numbers  of  the  regiment  proceeded  rapidly  and  fa 
vorably. 

Lieut.  Charles  E.  Walbridge,  of  Co.  "  H,"  who  had 
with  credit  and  success  performed  the  arduous  duties 
of  quartermaster,  was  at  last  obliged  to  yield  and  be 
sent  to  the  hospital  at  Point  Lookout,  Maryland,  for 
treatment  of  fever,  then  prevailing  to  an  alarming  ex 
tent  throughout  the  command. 

By  act  of  Congress  all  bands,  enlisted  as  regimental 
bands,  were  to  be  mustered  out  at  once,  and  this  just 
at  a  time  when  the  worn  and  afflicted  soldiery  needed 
the  inspiring  and  inspiriting  influences  of  music  more 
than  at  any  other  period  of  their  service.  Millions  of 
dollars  of  government  property  could  be  destroyed  by 
military  order,  that  contractors  might  replace  the  same 
with  profit,  but  the  enlivening  strains  of  music  to  keep 
in  heart  and  spirits  a  dying  soldiery  must  be  denied 
them.  "  Trees  when  cut  off  may  grow  again  ;  men, 


92          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

Orders  to  move  came.  The  wagons  were  loaded 
and  moved.  Ordered  to  march  at  4  P.  M. 

Friday,  August  15th.  Moved  two  miles  and  stopped. 
Maj.  Otis  detailed  with  three  companies  to  guard  am 
munition  train.  Lay  on  anus  all  night. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  &  Volunteers.         93 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    RETURN   MARCH    STILL   CONTINUES. KNAPSACKS    ON 

CANAL   BOAT    SUNK. FISHED    OUT,    BUT     SPOILED. 

MOVED  THROUGH  WILLIAMSBURG. HALTED  AND  MUS 
TERED  THE  ARMY. ARRIVAL  AT  YORKTOWN. OR 
DERED  TO  GLOUCESTER  POINT. CAPT.  MORSE  WITH 

RECRUITS      FROM      BUFFALO.  ONE      HUNDRED      AND 

FOURTH    PENNSYLVANIA     WITHIN    THE      FORT.  ONE 

HUNDREDTH  NEW  YORK  ENCAMPED  WITHOUT  THE 
FORT. COL.  STAUNTON  IN  CHARGE  OF  WORKING  PAR 
TIES.  COL.  DAVIS  ON  A  RECONNOISSANCE. 

Started  at  3  A.  M.,  Saturday,  August,  16th.  Fell 
into  column  at  daylight  and  moved  by  Gen.  Keyes' 
headquarters  a  little  past  sunrise.  The  whole  army 
in  motion.  An  immense  wagon  train.  Outside  of 
entrenchments  and  in  an  enemy's  country,  with  a  valu 
able  train.  Marched  eight  miles  and  bivouacked  in 
order  of  battle,  in  a  corn  field.  Roasted  corn  was  not 
neglected.  Men  ordered  under  arms  one  hour  before 
daybreak. 

Sunday,  had  a  very  hard  march.  Crossed  the  Chick- 
ahominy  at  its  mouth  on  a  ponton  bridge  twenty-two 


94          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

hundred  feet  long.  The  knapsacks  of  Naglee's  brigade 
had  been  placed  on  a  canal  boat  at  Harrison's  landing 
and  the  boat  sunk  before  leaving.  They  were  fished  up, 
and  in  this  wet  state  put  on  board  another  boat  and 
towed  to  Yorktown.  They  were  ruined  and  condemn 
ed,  still  after  the  proper  representations,  the  men  were 
not  indemnified  for  their  losses.  Many  officers  lost 
their  baggage.  It  was  the  second  time  in  four  months 
they  had  been  stripped,  save  that  in  which  they  stood. 
Halted  two  hours  after  crossing  Chickahoininy.  Had 
marched  fourteen  miles.  At  2  P.  M.,  moved  and 
marched  about  two  miles  and  encamped  in  a  large 
field  on  a  plantation,  within  four  miles  of  Williams- 
burg. 

Monday,  August  18th.  The  march  was  severe. 
Passed  through  Williamsburg  and  over  the  battle 
ground  without  halting,  but  with  despairing  hearts. 
Two  months  before  we  passed  through  the  town,  a  con 
quering  and  exultant  army,  now  our  backs  were  to 
ward  a  city  which  we  had  confidently  hoped  to  have 
entered  long  ere  that  hour. 

Encamped  at  3  P.  M.  four  miles  beyond  Williams- 
burg.  The  army  must  be  mustered  for  pay,  and  was 
halted  for  the  duty.  Col.  Staunton  was  detailed  to 
muster  the  Eighty-first  New  York  Regiment.  Fin 
ished  after  dark.  Lay  quiet  till  morning.  In  con 
nection  with  the  muster  the  army  was  inspected. 
Remained  all  day  the  19th.  An  immense  wagon  train 
and  troops  moving  constantly.  Indications  are  that 
the  One  Hundredth  will  be  in  the  condition  of  rear- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          95 

guard  again.     Moved  camp  half  mile  to  a  more  shady 
spot. 

Marched  at  6  A.  M.,  Wednesday,  Aug.  20th,  and  ar 
rived  at  Yorktown  at  11  A.  M.  Halted  twenty  minutes 
and  moved  on  three  miles  and  encamped  on  a  bluff 
overlooking  York  river. 

The  movement  for  so  large  a  body  of  troops  was 
well  arranged.  The  trains  when  drawn  out,  extended 
forty  miles.  At  Yorktown,  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
Newport  News,  transports  were  in  waiting  to  convey 
the  bulk  of  the  army  to  Alexandria.  And  by  the 
23d  of  August  the  whole  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
had  sailed  except  Sumner's  corps  and  Peck's  division 
of  Keyes'  corps.  The  same  day  Gen.  McClellan  and 
staff  embarked  for  Alexandria,  where  he  arrived  on 
the  24:th,  to  find  himself  not  only  without  an  army, 
but  without  a  command. 

As  subordinate  officers  knew  nothing,  only  as  com 
municated  in  orders  from  superiors, the  men  and  officers 
of  the  One  Hundredth  were  fixing  themselves  for  a  long 
stay,  when  orders  came  to  pack  up  and  be  off  by  the 
way  of  Yorktown  to  Gloucester  Point  on  the  oppo 
site  side  of  York  river.  Maj.  Otis  continued  on  with 
three  companies  to  Fortress  Monroe  as  guard  to 
ammunition  train.  The  Major  parked  his  train  and 
rode  to  the  Fortress.  Saw  many  returned  prisoners, 
and  listened  to  their  sad  stories  of  suffering  and  hard 
treatment.  Here  the  Major  met  Capt.  Charles  E. 
Morse  with  recruits  for  the  regiment,  the  first  that 
had  been  sent  since  the  adoption  of  the  regiment  by 


96          One  Hundredth  N.  T.  £  Volunteers. 

the  Board  of  Trade  of  the  city  of  Buffalo.  The  major 
was  ordered  to  Yorktown.  Arrived  and  reported  to 
the  regiment.  The  command  was  ready  to  cross  over 
to  Gloucester  Point  one  hour  before  sunset.  As  there 
was  no  boat  the  regiment  bivouacked  for  the  night  on 
the  bluff.  At  sunrise  a  boat  came  and  Col.  Staunton 
reported  to  Col.  Davis,  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Pennsylvania,  at  the  fort.  The  One  Hundredth  New 
York  relieved  the  Ninety-eighth  New  York.  Col. 
Davis  at  once  assigned  a  spot  for  the  encampment  of 
the  One  Hundredth,  a  fine  spot  outside  of  the  fort, 
overlooking  Yorktown,  opposite,  the  river  above  and 
below,  as  well  as  some  little  distance  inland  on  the 
point.  Gen.  McClellan  had  ordered  a  force  over  to 
Gloucester  Point  to  hold  that  place,  which  would  give 
us  the  control  of  the  Peninsula  between  the  York 
and  Severn  rivers.  Col.  "W.  W.  H.  Davis,  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania,  was  selected  for 
this  command,  and  one  more  acceptable  to  the  shat 
tered  remnants  of  the  One  Hundredth  could  not  have 
been  given.  He  had  been  their  first  brigade  com 
mander,  and  had  taught  and  associated  with  them  from 
the  start,  and  hence,  that  the  ties  were  not  to  be 
broken  was  to  them  a  boon  of  no  ordinary  pleasure. 
Col.  Davis  was  reinforced  by  a  battery  of  four  three- 
inch  rifle  guns  under  command  of  Lieut.  Mink,  a  gal 
lant  young  officer.  The  picket  line  was  established 
nearly  a  mile  in  front  of  the  fort,  and  extended  across 
the  Peninsula  from  Sarah's  creek  to  York  river.  The 
fort  was  a  regular  pentagon,  and  probably  the  largest 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.          97 

earth-work  ever  built  in  this  country.  Following  the 
exterior  slope  of  the  ditch  the  distance  around  it  was 
about  a  mile.  It  occupied  nearly  the  site  of  the  old 
revolutionary  works  erected  by  the  British  in  1781, 
and  near  it  were  the  ruins  of  the  brick  house  Gen. 
Tarleton  used  for  a  hospital  during  the  siege  of  York- 
town  by  Washington.  When  the  fort  was  evacuated 
in  May,  the  guns  were  left  in  it,  but  had  since  been 
burst.  Col.  Davis  set  about  putting  the  fort  in  thor 
ough  repair.  It  was  done,  though  it  occupied  the  com 
mand  nearly  three  months.  The  timber  was  cleared 
away  for  a  thousand  yards,  and  as  the  country  was 
level  an  enemy's  approach  would  be  clearly  visible. 
The  camp  of  the  One  Hundredth  was  laid  out  in  regular 
order,  with  full  and  ample  space.  The  finest  camp 
we  have  had.  Capt.  Morse  arrived  with  ninety  re 
cruits,  bringing  the  silk  colors  presented  by  the  ladies 
of  Le  Roy.  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  made  a  short  speech, 
followed  with  cheers  by  the  men.  The  recruits  were 
assigned  to  the  different  companies.  A  large  mail 
arrived,  which  at  any  time  is  a  source  of  great  joy  to 
the  officers  and  men.  The  links  that  bound  them  to 
home  and  friends,  during  the  marches  that  had  pre 
ceded,  had  seemed  broken,  but  now  communication 
was  opened  and  the  tide  of  social  interest  flowed 
in  from  hosts  of  hearthstones,  so  long  clouded  in  grief 
and  gloom. 

Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  was  waited  upon  by  a  com 
mittee  of  line  officers  relative  to  the  appointment  of  a 

colonel,  as  in  any  case  it  would  be  an  event  of  great 
5 


98          One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

interest  to  all,  both  officers  and  men,  connected  with 
the  regiment. 

As  yet  food  was  scarce,  regularity  of  habits  and 
duties  was  not  established.  As  officer  of  the  day,  Col. 
Staunton  visited  the  picket  line,  and  made  the  ac 
quaintance  of  a  secesh  farmer  on  the  line,  and  got 
supper  for  a  dollar.  Work  on  the  fort  and  drilling 
commenced.  A  severe  tempest  swept  over  the  point. 
The  tents  with  difficulty  were  held  down,  as  a  storm 
on  that  low  land  moves  all  things  before  it. 

Tuesday,  August  26th.  A  cool  and  beautiful  day. 
Col.  Staunton  in  charge  of  working  parties.  Col. 
Davis,  in  company  with  Lieut.  Bowen  of  the  Topo 
graphical  Engineers,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth, 
went  out  on  a  reconnoissance.  They  viewed  the 
country,  talked  with  the  people,  paid  for  meals  pro 
vided,  and  returned  to  Gloucester  Point  with  a  good 
knowledge  of  the  country  and  its  military  situation. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.          99 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  RESULTS  OF  THE   PENINSULAR  CAMPAIGN. CALL   FOR 

THREE    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    MEN    FOR    THE    WAR. 

THREE     HUNDRED     THOUSAND     FOR    NINE     MONTHS. 

A    DRAFT    OF    AN    EQUAL    NUMBER. BOARD  OF  TRADE 

OF     BUFFALO     SEND     RECRUITS. COL.     G.     B.    DANDY 

APPOINTED    COLONEL. LIEUT.  COL.  STAUNTON   SENDS 

IN   HIS    RESIGNATION. WAR   MEETINGS    IN   BUFFALO. 

ACTION     OF      PUBLIC     SCHOOL      TEACHERS. ORDER 

OF     SUPT.    SACKETT     TO    PREPARE     LINT.  A    WHISKY 

MUTINY     IN     CAMP. IT     WAS      QUELLED,     AND     THE 

"  LITTLE    DISTURBER  "    ISSUED. 

The  disasters  of  the  Peninsular  campaign  had 
awakened  the  people  and  the  government  to  the  neces 
sity  of  a  more  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war.  The 
loyal  Governors  of  eighteen  States  signed  a  request 
that  the  President  should  increase  the  force.  In  com 
pliance  with  the  request,  the  President  called  for  three 
hundred  thousand  volunteers  for  the  war  on  the  1st  of 
July,  and  on  the  9th  of  August,  when  Pope  was  strug 
gling  with  Jackson  on  the  Eapid  Anna,  he  called  for 
three  hundred  thousand  men  for  nine  months,  and 


100         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

that  an  equal  number  should  be  drafted  from  the  great 
body  of  the  citizens  who  were  over  eighteen  years  of 
age  and  under  forty-five,  if  they  did  not  appear  as 
volunteers. 

Old  regiments  were  to  be  filled  with  recruits,  thereby 
preserving  their  identity.  The  Board  of  Trade  of 
Buffalo,  as  stated,  had  adopted  the  One  Hundredth 
Eegiment,  and  had  voted  a  large  sum  of  money  for 
military  purposes.  Eecruiting  had  successfully  com 
menced.  The  patriotic  war  spirit  of  the  city  was 
aroused.  Public  meetings  were  held  in  the  several 
wards ;  at  the  armory  on  Sabbath,  and  in  front  of  the 
churches  on  Main  street  during  the  afternoons  and 
evenings  of  each  week.  Stores  and  other  places  of 
business  were  closed  at  6  P.  M.,  to  afford  opportunity 
to  all  to  hear  and  drink  the  spirit  of  loyalty  to  gov 
ernment.  Distinguished  speakers  from  abroad  as  well 
as  home  talent  were  in  attendance  upon  the  waiting 
ear  of  the  people.  It  was  then  that  the  writer  came 
forth  as  a  common  soldier,  and  urged  the  duty  of  the 
hour  upon  his  fellow  citizens.  It  was  at  the  close  of 
one  of  these  speeches  in  front  of  the  churches  that  we 
met  "William  Wilkeson,  Esq.,  to  whom  we  have  dedi 
cated  this  book,  and  who  moved  a  resolution  on  that 
occasion  that  the  speaker,  Geo.  II.  Stowits,  late  princi 
pal  of  one  of  the  public  schools  of- this  city,  be  recom 
mended  to  Gov.  Morgan  as  a  suitable  person  to  be 
commissioned  in  one  of  our  Buffalo  regiments,  which 
was  adopted  unanimously  with  cheers. 

The  public  school  teachers  of  the  city  held  a  meet- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        101 

ing  at  school  house  No.  7,  and  unanimously  resolved 
to  apportion  a  part  of  their  wages  for  a  fund  to  for 
ward  the  cause  of  enlistments.  John  B.  Saekett, 
superintendent  of  schools,  presided.  The  writer  ad 
dressed  the  meeting,  and  called  upon  teachers  to  teach 
the  youth  under  their  care  that  love  of  country  which 
would  prompt  an  interest  always  to  defend  it.  Supt. 
Sackett  ordered  Friday,  September  5th,  to  be  observed 
by  all  the  schools  as  a  day  of  labor  for  the  wounded 
in  the  preparation  of  lint  and  bandages.  The  order 
was  faithfully  observed. 

In  the  meantime  a  letter  had  been  addressed  to  the 
Board  of  Trade  relative  to  the  appointment  of  officers 
in  the  One  Hundredth,  stating  the  facts  relative  to  the 
organization  of  the  regiment,  the  expenditures  of  offi 
cers  and  men  with  hopes  of  promotion,  and  the  legiti 
mate  fears  aroused  relative  to  the  sending  of  new  and 
inexperienced  men  to  rule  those  who  had  suffered  the 
trials  of  camp,  field  and  battle.  The  communication 
was  respectfully  written  and  signed  by  M.  H.  Top 
ping,  commanding.  The  anxiety  relative  to  the  posi 
tion  of  colonel  was  settled  by  the  announcement  that 
George  B.  Dandy  had  been  commissioned  colonel  of 
the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  commission  to  date 
and  rank  from  August  27th,  1862.  To  Lieut.  Col. 
Staunton  and  the  line  officers  of  the  regiment,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  feelings  of  the  rank  and  file,  this  was 
an  unexpected  as  well  as  a  most  unfortunate  appoint 
ment.  It  wras  ever  a  step  of  risk  to  introduce  an 
officer  bred  in  the  regular  army  to  command  volun- 


102        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

teers.  That  mind  is  rare  who  goes  back  or  forward  of 
his  culture,  tastes  and  habits.  Previous  to  the  rebel 
lion,  the  composition  of  the  regular  army  was  of  a 
class  of  men  that  had  left  all  social  obligations  and 
ties,  and  drifted,  as  a  last  resort,  into  the  ranks  as  a 
government  soldier,  the  end  of  the  man  and  citizen. 
Officers  bred  to  war  handled  and  treated  these  men, 
usually,  as  the  refuse  of  society,  barely  meriting  the 
decencies  of  common  usage.  When  the  people 
sprang  to  arms  to  save  a  country  it  was  not  to  become 
professional  soldiers,  but  to  resist,  succeed,  and  retire 
to  their  homes  as  subjects  of  civil  law  and  order.  The 
culture  of  an  officer  whose  life  had  been  in  the  tented 
field  would  know  no  difference  between  the  volunteer, 
no  matter  what  his  ability  or  literary  qualifications, 
and  the  spirits  hitherto  under  his  control,  and  hence 
that  bond  of  good  feeling  that  should  ever  exist  be 
tween  the  governor  and  the  governed  could  not  be, 
and  corresponding  unhappy  results  were  sure  to  fol 
low.  That  Col.  Dandy  was  a  capable  officer  is  not  to 
be  questioned,  but  that  his  appointment  as  colonel  of 
the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  under  the  peculiar 
character  of  its  organization,  was  most  unfortunate 
we  can  fully  attest,  in  the  light  both  of  observation 
and  experience.  Immediately  succeeding  the  appoint 
ment  of  Col.  Dandy,  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  wrote  his 
resignation,  as  he  felt  that  his  place  had  been  given  to 
another,  and  that  his  services  could  not  be  as  efficient 
as  a  subordinate  officer  since  he  had  occupied  the  po 
sition  of  the  superior  officer  of  the  regiment  since  the 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        103 

death  of  Col.  Brown.  Gens.  Emory  and  Naglee,  as 
well  as  Col.  Davis  and  others,  labored  with  Col.  Staun- 
ton  to  change  his  decision,  but  to  no  purpose.  Col. 
Dandy  subsequently  told  Col.  Staunton  that  he  should 
have  done  the  same  under  like  circumstances,  thereby 
proving  to  the  letter  what  we  have  here  recorded, 
that  his,  Col.  Dandy's,  appointment  was  most  unfor 
tunate. 

While  the  people  were  sending  forward  recruits, 
the  routine  of  camp  life  was  still  continued. 

August  27th.  Gen.  Peck  inspected  the  fort  and 
made  suggestions.  The  people  begin  to  bring  in 
quantities  of  food. 

August  28th.  Maj.  Otis  detailed  to  take  charge  of 
working  parties  in  Yorktown.  A  large  number  of 
transports  in  the  river  to  remove  Couch's  division. 
Quartermaster  Bishop  returned  from  Fortress  Monroe 
and  had  been  serving  the  regiment  as  such  since  the 
absence  of  Lieut.  Walbridge.  Col.  Davis  mustered 
the  One  Hundredth  for  pay  August  31st.  Col.  Staun 
ton  sent  in  his  resignation.  Work  still  continued  on 
the  fort.  Col.  Staunton  had  to  quell  a  whisky  mutiny. 
Men  refused  to  work  without  whisky.  He  ordered 
them  to  go,  and  they  went  without  much  complaint. 
The  cause  of  refusal,  —  that  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fourth  Pennsylvania  were  served  with  the  "  little  dis 
turber  of  peace"  and  they  were  not.  Gen.  Emory  or 
dered  the  whisky  rations  to  be  issued.  Dr.  Kittenger 
refused  to  issue.  Col.  Staunton  ordered  Quartermaster 
to  do  it.  Col.  Davis  also  requested  that  the  rations 


104:        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

be  issued.  "We  will  liere  record  the  expressions  of 
Col.  Staunton,  who  "  sleeps  the  sleep  that  knows  no 
waking,"  and  it  will  serve  as  the  reflection  of  the  writ 
er's  opinions :  "  That  whisky  was  the  disturbing  ele 
ment  in  the  army  ;  that  it  is  the  devil's  chief  instru 
ment  to  accomplish  evil  designs."  We  know  it,  and  we 
have  seen  it  and  deplored  it ;  and  even  now  hear  the 
wail  of  a  fellow  officer  who  exclaimed  to  the  writer 
who  had  kept  him  often  from  drink,  "  If  you  leave  me, 
Captain,  I  am  ruined."  His  body  was  soon  sent  to 
the  home  of  parents  and  sister,  a  victim,  a  sacrifice,  to 
the  demon  whisky.  Still  that  false  idea,  that  whisky 
was  necessary  to  courage  in  the  hour  of  battle,  pre 
vailed  when  reason  said,  then,  if  ever,  the  brain  needs 
to  be  cool,  with  all  its  powers  unaffected  by  unnat 
ural  stimulants. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        105 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE     MEN    STOLE    A    BARBEL    OF    WHISKY. RUMOR    OF   A 

RAID    OX    WILLIAMSBURG. REGIMENT    UNDER    ARMS. 

—  COL.    DANDY    ARRIVED    AND  ASSUMED    COMMAND. 

LIEUT.  COL.  STAUNTON  RESIGNED  AND   LEFT    FOR   THE 

NORTH.  RECRUITS     ARRIVING.  LIEUTS.      GREINER 

AND    GUTHRIE    DISCHARGED. DRILLS    AND    REVIEWS. 

CHANGE    OF    CAMP. THE    SIBLEY    TENT. CHAPLAIN 

LINN  ARRIVED  WITH  FLAG  FROM   BOARD  OF    TRADE. 

RAID     TO     GLOUCESTER     COURT     HOUSE      UNDER    COM 
MAND    OF    GEN.    NAGLEE. 

The  proximity  of  the  York  river  to  the  camp  of  the 
One  Hundredth  afforded  a  fine  opportunity  for  bath 
ing,  washing  and  fine  oysters. 

Saturday  night,  September  5th,  the  men  con 
cluded  to  finish  the  whisky,  and  for  that  end  stole  the 
barrel,  and  saved  the  Quartermaster  the  trouble  of 
issue. 

Monday  the  8th.  A  rumor  of  a  raid  on  Williams- 
burg.  Working  parties  called  in.  Regiment  ordered 
under  arms  and  into  the  fort,  taking  positions  behind 

the  breastworks.     Kept  at  work  during:  the  afternoon 
5* 


100        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

Raised  the  flag  pole  on  the  fort.  Wind  very  high. 
Rumors  of  leaving  very  soon.  During  the  evening 
Lieut.  Lynch  arrived  with  thirty-one  recruits.  The 
wind  had  blown  a  gale  for  four  days.  Maj .  Otis  returned 
from  Yorktown  sick,  relieved  from  duty  for  sixteen 
days.  Lieut.  Greiner  arrived  with  twenty-eight  re 
cruits. 

Sunday,  September  14th.  Gen.  Emory  reviewed 
and  inspected  the  One  Hundredth  New  York,  and 
One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania.  Assigned 
Lieut.  Greiner's  men  to  Co.  "  K." 

Monday,  September  15th.  Col.  G.  B.  Dandy  ar 
rived  in  camp  and  pitched  his  tent  as  commander  of 
the  regimeTit.  He  assumed  command. 

Wednesday,  September  17th.  Two  companies,  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania  and  One  Hun 
dredth  New  York,  made  a  raid  and  took  forty  head 
of  cattle. 

September  24th.  Lieut.  Guthrie  arrived  and  was  put 
in  charge  of  Co.  "  G."  Capt.  Walter  B.  Moore,  of  Co. 
"B,"  was  discharged  the  service  September  27,  1862. 
Lieut.  Warren  Granger,  Jr.,  was  promoted  to  captain, 
August  13,  1862,  in  place  of  Capt.  Henshaw  resigned. 
Gen.  Naglee  assumed  command  of  the  brigade  after 
an  absence  of  three  months.  Gen.  Emory,  who  was 
relieved,  accompanied  Gen.  Banks  on  his  expedition 
to  New  Orleans.  He  was  esteemed  one  of  the  most 
intelligent  and  best  informed  men  in  the  army,  and 
was  well  liked  by  his  men.  The  picket  line  was  lim 
ited  in  extent  and  included  but  few  of  the  inhabitants. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.       107 

With  a  single  exception  they  were  quiet  and  orderly. 
Mr.  Dobson  and  wife  were  bitter  secesh.  She  was 
rebel  to  the  backbone,  and  ugly.  Gen.  Dix  ordered 
their  house  to  be  taken  for  a  hospital,  which  made  her 
furious,  and  she  threatened  to  burn  it  down  before  the 
hated  Yankees  could  get  possession  of  it.  It  was 
seized  and  a  strong  guard  placed  over  it.  A  quantity 
of  arsenic,  which  she  wished  to  throw  into  the  well,  a 
part  of  a  keg  of  powder  and  two  loaded  guns  were 
found.  She  told  the  surgeon  in  charge  that  "  when  she 
met  him  in  h — 1  she  would  scratch  his  eyes  out."  She 
and  her  effects  were  placed  outside  the  lines.  "Work 
on  the  fort,  inspections  and  target  shooting  occupied 
the  time  of  men  and  officers.  The  days  were  warm 
and  nights  cool,  with  frequent  showers. 

Wednesday,  September  24th.  Lieut.  Bishop's  wife 
came  to  camp  on  a  visit  directly  from  New  York. 
False  alarm  in  camp  at  10J  P.  M.  Men  under  arms. 
Scouts  sent  out  and  found  nothing. 

Friday,  September  26th.  One  hundred  and  sixty 
recruits  arrived  in  charge  of  Lieuts.  C.  E.  Walbridge 
and  Coleman.  They  had  been  accumulating  in  Alex 
andria,  in  the  camps  of  convalescents  and  recruits,  for 
a  long  time.  These  local  depots  for  receiving  re 
turned  soldiers  and  recruits  were  established  all  over 
the  country,  a  profit  to  contractors  and  a  source  of 
great  annoyance  to  the  soldier,  as  the  writer  can  at 
test.  The  recruits  were  assigned  to  different  com 
panies. 

September  29th.     An  arrival  of  forty  recruits. 


108        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 

October  2d.  Col.  Dandy  approved  of  the  resigna 
tion  of  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton,  and  it  passed  through 
the  regular  channels.  The  weather  continued  op 
pressively  hot  and  dry. 

Sunday,  October  5th.  Col.  Davis  reviewed  the 
One  Hundredth  New  York,  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Pennsylvania  and  Lieut.  Mink's  battery.  Col.  Dandy 
took  general  command  and  Staunton  regimental. 
Lieut.  Lynch  returned  for  duty. 

Monday,  October  6th.  Officers  summoned  to  York- 
town  to  show  their  commissions  and  musters.  Capt. 
Nicholson  arrived  with  Lieut.  Wells  and  more  recruits. 
Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  held  court-martial  for  the  trial  of 
prisoners.  Ten  were  sentenced. 

Saturday  rained  all  day  with  northerly  wind.  Fifty- 
three  prisoners  and  sick  men  returned  to  camp.  Maj. 
Otis  wrote  to  G.  S.  Hazard,  president  of  the  Board  of 
Trade,  for  a  suitable  person  for  chaplain  of  the  regi 
ment. 

Monday,  October  13th.  Lieut.  Col.  Stannton's 
resignation  returned  accepted,  and  he  was  free  "  once 
again."  He  went  to  Yorktown,  procured  a  pass  from 
Gen.  Keyes  to  Fortress  Monroe,  made  sketch  of  camp, 
packed  up,  dined  with  Cols.  Dandy  and  Dodge  and 
Maj.  Otis,  and  at  6  P.  M.,  went  to  ferry  boat  accom 
panied  by  Col.  Dandy,  Maj.  Otis,  Capts.  Payne  and 
Rauert,  and  Lieuts.  Topping,  Walbridge  and  many 
others.  Thus  ended  Mr.  Staunton's  official  connection 
with  the  regiment.  With  a  farewell  from  Gen.  Naglee 
and  staff,  and  in  company  with  Lieut.  Bishop  and 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        109 

wife,  went  on  board  of  the  Thomas  A.  Morgan,  the 
United  States  mail  boat,  and  soon  arrived  at  Fortress 
Monroe.  Visited  Gen.  Dix,  then  took  steamer  for 
Baltimore,  thence  to  "Washington,  settled  with  the 
government,  and  turned  homeward,  which  was  reached 
October  31st. 

Thursday,  October  16th.  Paymaster  arrived  and 
prepared  rolls.  The  officers  and  men  were  paid  for 
four  months. 

Sunday,  October  19th.  A  grand  review  was  had 
by  Gen.  Keyes. 

October  23d.  Lieut.  Gardner  arrived  with  forty  re 
cruits.  Company  drills  were  established.  A  new  camp 
was  staked  out.  Found  a  scarcity  of  lumber.  Pitched 
new  camp  in  a  gale  of  wind.  Kitchens  were  built. 

October  31st.  Regiment  mustered  for  pay  by  Col. 
Dandy.  New  camp  fitted  up. 

November  2d.  Eegiment  reviewed  by  Gen.  Nag- 
lee.  Col.  Dandy  established  a  military  school  of 
instruction. 

Tuesday,  November  5th.  Chaplain  J.  B.  Linn 
arrived  with  a  new  flag  presented  by  the  Board  of 
Trade  of  Buffalo. 

November  7th.  Four  inches  of  snow,  ending  in  rain 
and  mud.  Camp  inspection  and  presentation  of  new 
flag  by  Chaplain  Linn  at  10£  A.  M.  Eegiment  at  work 
on  guard-house,  tents,  and  chopping  wood.  The  men 
have  the  large  Sibleytent,  with  a  capacity  for  sixteen 
men  each,  with  place  for  stove  in  center  and  bunks 
in  tiers. 


110        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

November  15th.  Cavalry  crossed  from  Yorktown. 
Picket  attack ;  one  man  killed,  three  wounded  and 
three  prisoners.  Lieuts.  Greiner  and  Guthrie  dis 
charged. 

Monday,  November  18th.  Capt.  Hinson  left  for 
Albany. 

November  20th.  Col.  Dandy  took  five  companies 
for  a  foraging  expedition.  Inspections,  reviews,  work 
on  camp,  and  reading  orders  consumed  the  days.  The 
men  were  living  very  pleasantly.  Recruits  were  ac 
quiring  a  knowledge  of  camp  duties  and  the  use  of 
their  guns,  together  with  the  knowledge  of  drill.  As 
we  have  stated,  the  people  within  the  lines  came  into 
camp  with  oysters  and  various  articles  of  food,  which, 
with  donations  from  home  and  the  regular  rations,  left 
no  opportunity  for  complaint.  To  all  appearances  the 
command  was  established  for  the  winter,  and  the 
wives  of  several  officers  arrived,  which  had  the  appear 
ance  of  civil  life.  But  there  is  no  permanent  certainty 
in  military  affairs.  The  ordinary  duties  of  camp  con 
tinued  to  the  end  of  November,  interspersed  with 
company  and  battalion  drills,  and  reviews  by  Gens. 
Naglee  and  Keyes.  The  same  routine  extended  into 
and  through  the  month  of  December.  On  the  morn 
ing  of  December  llth  Gen.  Naglee  made  a  reconnois- 
sance  in  force  to  Gloucester  Court  House  and  sur 
rounding  country.  The  column  consisted  of  four 
regiments  of  infantry,  a  battery  of  artillery  and  two 
squadrons  of  cavalry.  Detachments  were  sent  beyond 
the  Court  House,  driving  the  enemy's  cavalry,  burning 


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One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        Ill 

their  quarters  and  stores  of  subsistence.  The  force 
returned  with  plunder  in  the  shape  of  horses,  cattle, 
sheep,  hogs  and  corn,  which  were  turned  over  to  the 
proper  officers,  and  reached  their  camps  after  midnight, 
Sunday,  December  14th. 


112        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

RUMORS  OF  LEAVING  GLOUCESTER  POINT. THE  NECES 
SARY  PROMOTIONS  MADE. THE  CAMP  AT  GLOU 
CESTER  POINT. ARRIVAL  AND  VISIT  OF  WARREN 

GRANGER,    ESQ.,    FROM    BUFFALO. ARRIVAL    OF    ONE 

HUNDRED    AND  SIXTY-NINTH   PENNSYLVANIA.  FALSE 

ALARMS. BRIGADE    HAS    MARCHING    ORDERS. SHIP 
PED   WITH    SEALED    ORDERS. ARRIVED   AT   FORTRESS 

MONROE. LEFT  AND  ANCHORED  AT  BEAUFORT,  NORTH 

CAROLINA. ENCAMPED     AT     CAROLINA     CITY. COL. 

DAVIS    IN    COMMAND    OF    BRIGADE. GEN.  NAGLEE    IN 

COMMAND     OF     DIVISION. DRILL     AND     PREPARATION 

FOR  A  MOVE  SOMEWHERE. 

That  quiet  rest,  that  had  pervaded  the  minds  of  the 
men  in  the  entertainment  of  the  thought  that  Glou 
cester  Point  was  to  be  their  home  for  the  winter,  was 
disturbed  by  various  rumors  of  removal.  The  regi 
ment  was  full  to  its  minimum  standard.  The  neces 
sary  and  proper  promotions  had  been  made. 

Capt.  Daniel  D.  Nash,  who  gave  the  first  company 
to  the  regiment,  was  promoted  to  major,  vice  C.  N. 
Otis,  promoted.  Maj.  Otis  was  promoted  to  lieuten- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        113 

ant  colonel,  vice  Staunton,  resigned  ;  and  other  pro 
motions  had  been  made  besides  the  coming  and  going, 
resigning  and  discharging  of  new  and  old  officers,  as 
can  be  seen  in  the  published  list  of  commissions  at  the 
close  of  the  volume. 

The  camp  at  Gloucester  Point  was  truly  a  beautiful 
and  comfortable  military  home.  The  superior  intelli 
gence  of  Col.  Dandy,  relative  to  the  keeping  of  camp, 
and  its  police  regulations  gave  indications  that  he 
knew  "the  value  of  comfort  and  health,  to  the  end  that 
he  might  have  efficient  and  reliable  soldiers. 

Capt.  P.  Edwin  Dye,  of  Co.  "H,"  had  joined  the 
regiment  after  a  long  illness  of  typhoid  fever.  "War 
ren  Granger  came  on  a  visit  to  camp  from  Buffalo, 
which  had  a  happy  effect  upon  officers  and  men. 
Having  a  son,  whose  career  thus  far  had  been  eventful, 
a  father's  solicitude  was  not  the  least  cause  of  his 
friendly  appearance  amid  the  military  family  of  the 
One  Hundredth  regiment. 

Thursday,  December  ISth.  Mr.  Granger  had  the 
opportunity  of  witnessing  a  brigade  drill.  The  next  day 
called  on  Gen.  ISTaglee,  accompanied  by  Lieut.  Col.  Otis. 

Saturday,  December  20th.  The  regiment  was  in 
spected  by  Col.  Durkee,  Ninety-eighth  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  was  credited  for  its  good  condition. 

Sunday,  December  21st.  Warren  Granger  left  for 
home. 

A  short  time  previous  a  regiment  of  nine  months' 
men,  known  as  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth 
Pennsylvania,  encamped  just  east  of  the  camp  of  the 


114        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 

One  Hundredth,  and  subsequently  remained  after  the 
departure  of  the  One  Hundredth  New  York  and  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania.  Drills,  company 
and  battalion,  continued,  and  Tuesday,  December 
23d,  Lieut.  Col.  Otis  was  ordered  from  brigade  head 
quarters  to  command  all  forces  at  Gloucester  Point, 
composed  of  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania, 
One  Hundredth  New  York,  and  Battery  "  K  "  First 
New  York  Artillery,  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
ninth  Pennsylvania.  Relieved  by  Col.  Dodge. f  False 
alarm  in  camp  caused  by  the  negroes  firing  on  the 
picket  line.  Regiment  under  arms. 

Thursday,  December  25th.  Orders  to  move  at  a 
minute's  notice.  There  was  no  doubt  of  a  change  of 
positions.  The  pleasant  camp  at  Gloucester  Point, 
with  all  its  conveniences,  was  to  be  evacuated.  The 
beautiful  autumnal  days  had  passed,  though  December 
bore  the  impress  of  early  spring.  The  veteran  of  a 
campaign  and  the  recruit  were  to  enter  unknown 
fields  of  duty  together.  Ordered  to  ship.  Went  on 
board  at  7  P.  M.  Friday,  December  26th.  Ordered 
back  and  into  the  fort  at  9  P.  M.  Returned  to  ship 
at  11  P.  M.  Lieut.  Col.  Otis  and  other  officers  pro 
tested  against  so  many  men  on  board  so  small  a  ship 
as  the  Belmdiere.  Permission  was  granted  to  leave 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Ten  days'  uncooked 
rations  were  put  on  board  each  vessel,  which  sailed 
with  sealed  orders  not  to  be  opened  until  twenty  miles 
south  of  Cape  Henry. 

Wagons,  teams  and  private  horses  accompanied  the 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  /SI  Volunteers.       115 

expedition.  The  strength  of  the  brigade  at  this  time 
was  four  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty-eight 
officers  and  men,  and  consisted  of  eight  regiments. 
They  were  embarked  on  seven  transports.  The  dark- 
hulled  Belvidiere  became  our  temporary  home.  The 
name  of  that  river  boat  will  call  to  mind  close  quarters 
by  night  and  by  day.  Hold,  upper  and  lower  decks, 
were  packed  with  human  beings  without  place  to  rest 
the  limbs  of  the  weary  soldier.  To  add  to  the  discom 
fort  of  the  men  a  cold  rain  drenched  the  occupants  of 
the  upper  decks.  Arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe  at  4  P. 
M.  Saturday,  December  27th.  The  sun  shone  warmly, 
and  the  men  were  allowed  to  go  ashore  at  9  A.  M., 
Sunday,  as  the  ship  was  coaling.  Previous  to  leaving 
Gloucester  Point  the  men  were  to  have  two  days'  rations 
cooked  and  in  haversacks.  With  filled  haversack,  filled 
knapsack,  and  overcoat,  with  gun  and  accoutrements, 
the  new  recruit  had  yet  to  learn  the  weight  of  military 
life.  The  expedition  left  Fortress  Monroe  Sunday 
evening  at  6  o'clock.  During  a  storm  those  below 
fared  best,  and  when  pleasant  those  on  deck  were  the 
favored  ones.  Hatteras  was  mindful  of  the  frail  craft 
that  held  us,  and  those  usually  agitated  waters  were 
mild  for  December.  At  6  P.  M.,  Monday,  the  guns  of 
Fort  Macon  smiled  upon  us,  and  we  rode  at  anchor  off 
Beaufort.  Being  too  late  for  a  pilot,  we  waited  till 
morning.  Then  through  the  breakers  safely,  and  we 
ran  alongside  the  dock  at  7  A.  M.,  Tuesday.  The  regi 
ment  disembarked,  marched  along  the  railroad  to 
Morehead  City,  had  coffee,  and  then  continued  for  three 


116        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

miles  to  a  small  place  known  on  the  map  as  Carolina 
City.  It  consisted  of  a  small  depot  and  two  or  three 
dwellings.  Beaufort  contained  some  two  thousand  in 
habitants  before  the  war,  and  is  an  unattractive  village 
of  cheerless-looking  houses  and  sandy  streets.  More- 
head  city  is  the  terminus  of  the  Atlantic  and  North  Ca 
rolina  Railroad,  and  contained  some  twenty  or  thirty 
frame  houses.  The  day  was  warm  as  summer.  There 
had  been  no  frost  to  injure,  and  a  second  crop  of  toma 
toes  and  sweet  potatoes  had  been  realized.  Lieut.  Col. 
Otis  was  in  command.  Adjt.  Haddock  was  left  at 
Gloucester  Point  sick  with  typhoid  fever.  Lieut. 
Leopold  Evert,  of  Co.  "  C,"  was  detailed  as  adjutant 
of  the  regiment.  He  wras  a  young  man  of  ability, 
and  competent  for  the  trust. 

The  men  had  been  supplied  with  shelter  tents,  a 
square  of  canvass  with  buttons  and  holes,  which,  with 
a  fellow  soldier,  the  two  united,  forms  the  temporary 
shelter  from  the  weather.  The  camp  was  pitched,  the 
picket  line  established,  retreat  and  taps  beaten,  and 
the  regiment  was  asleep  amid  a  storm  of  rain,  wet  and 
tentless,  for  many  tents  had  blown  away,  while  the 
men  passed  a  most  unpleasant  night.  The  men  com 
plained  bitterly.  They  had  just  left  comfortable 
quarters.  Rations  were  regular  and  all  the  means  for 
cooking  them.  Now,  they  were  to  be  waited  for. 
They  were  wet ;  their  guns  were  wet  and  rusty,  and 
in  an  enemy's  country ;  there  seemed  to  be  plenty  of 
reasons  why  they  should  entertain  the  fault-finding 
spirit.  The  weather  was  cool. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        117 

December  31st,  Wednesday,  the  regiment  was  mus 
tered  for  pay,  and  also  the  several  companies  were 
making  out  their  pay  rolls. 

January  1st,  1863.  Two  transports  were  seen  in 
the  harbor.  Bouge  Sound  is  near.  The  men  roam  up 
and  down  the  beach  for  boards  and  lumber  of  any 
discription  to  make  their  tents  comfortable.  The  peo 
ple  of  this  part  of  North  Carolina,  if  a  fair  type  of  the 
masses,  are  a  sallow  tribe  of  tobacco  chewing  and 
snuff  dipping  creatures.  The  soil  is  sandy.  Sweet 
potatoes  is  the  staple  of  the  locality.  The  country  is 
covered  with  pine  timber.  Soon  after  landing  the 
troops  were  reorganized.  Gen.  Naglee  and  staff  ar 
rived.  Lieut.  Col.  Otis  rode  around  the  picket  line 
with  Col.  Plaisted  of  the  Eleventh  Maine. 

January  3d.  Col.  W.  W.  H.  Davis  was  again 
placed  in  command  of  the  brigade,  while  Gen.  Foster 
placed  Gen.  Naglee  in  command  of  division.  Col. 
Davis'  brigade  consisted  of  the  Eleventh  Maine,  Fifty- 
second  and  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania, 
One  Hundredth  New  York,  and  Independent  battalion 
of  New  York  Yolunteers.  Lieut.  Charles  E.  Wai- 
bridge,  of  Co.  "  H,"  was  detailed  as  acting  assistant 
quartermaster  on  the  staff  of  Col.  Davis.  Lieut. 
Edward  S.  Peck  was  detailed  regimental  quarter 
master,  in  place  of  Lieut.  Bishop,  detailed  as  division 
quartermaster.  Battalion  and  company  drills  were 
instituted,  and  dress  parade. 

Monday,  January  5th.  Lieut.  Col.  Otis  mustered 
companies  "  B "  and  "  G,"  that  had  just  arrived. 
Weather  clear  and  mild. 


118        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 

On  Saturday,  January  10th,  there  was  a  severe 
storm  of  rain  and  a  gale  of  wind.  Many  officers 
visited  Newbern,  Beaufort,  and  the  surrounding  coun 
try.  Lieut.  Charles  Coleman  made  a  fine  sketch  of 
Bogue  Sound  and  the  camp  of  the  One  Hundredth 
Kegiment.  It  can  be  seen  in  the  Art  Gallery  in  this 
city.  Lieut.  Col.  Otis  visited  Newbern.  It  is  a  fine 
old  town,  with  beautiful  trees  forming  one  unbroken 
shade. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        119 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

COL.   DANDY  RESUMED   COMMAND. DRILLS   CONTINUED.  — 

TROOPS      ORDERED      TO      EMBARK. TRANSPORTS      IN 

WAITING. TENTS    STRUCK    JANUARY    19TH,    1863. 

EMBARKED. LAY  AT  ANCHOR   TILL  JANUARY  29TII. 

SAILED  SOUTHWARD.  ORDERS  OPENED  OFF  WIL 
MINGTON.  DESTINATION  PORT  ROYAL,  SOUTH  CARO 
LINA.  ANCHORED  AT  PORT  ROYAL,  BETWEEN  FORTS 

SEWARD  AND  WELLS. TROOPS  KEPT  ON  BOARD  TRAN 
SPORTS  FOR  SOME  DAYS. WENT  ASHORE  FOR  AIR  AND 

EXERCISE. FATIGUE     PARTY     SENT    ASHORE    TO    DIG 

WELLS  AND  PREPARE  FOK  PITCHING  CAMP. 

Wednesday,  January  14th.  Col.  Dandy  resumed 
command  of  the  regiment.  Chas.  McBean,  who  had 
been  regimental  clerk  was  appointed  sergeant  major. 
The  next  day  the  regiment  was  reviewed  by  Col. 
Dandy. 

January  18th.  Ordered  to  embark.  Tents  were 
struck,  and  Carolina  City,  with  its  cheerless  sand  and 
sallow  people,  its  pine  woods  and  sweet  potatoes,  all 
were  to  be  left,  and  the  command  was  to  go  somewhere. 

Regiment  struck  tents,  and  at  6  A.  M.,  Monday, 


120        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

January  19th,  inarched  to  Morehead  City,  and  em 
barked  on  board  the  new  and  beautiful  steamer  New 
England.  As  usual  we  were  under  "  sealed  orders." 
The  men  were  in  good  health.  Though  encamped  on 
the  ground  at  Carolina  City,  still  the  sanitary  condition 
of  the  regiment  was  as  good,  if  not  better,  than  when  we 
were  so  comfortably  sheltered  at  Gloucester  Point. 
The  troops  were  escaping  the  rigors  of  a  Northern  win 
ter;  which,  with  the  mild  climate  of  North  Carolina, 
in  contrast,  could  not  but  be  productive  of  good  and 
healthful  influences.  For  so  large  a  regiment  we  were 
well  cared  for  on  the  steamer,  which  had  ample  and 
airy  accommodations.  The  weather  was  cool  for  North 
Carolina.  "We  were  waiting  the  embarkation  of  the 
rest  of  the  division,  all  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Naglee.  The  commander  of  each  transport  has  sealed 
orders  which  are  not  to  be  opened  till  off  Wilmington. 
The  common  soldier,  and  subordinate  officer  knows, 
nothing  till  ordered  to  move.  To  obey  orders  is  the 
first  and  last  duty  of  a  soldier.  It  is  this  ignorance 
and  uncertainty  which  depresses  and  almost  kills  the 
intelligent  volunteer,  who,  when  at  home  took  in  as 
comprehensively  the  real  state  of  the  country  and  its 
dangers,  as  his  representatives  who  managed  his  affairs 
at  the  seat  of  the  Nation.  But  as  a  soldier,  he  is  sim 
ply  to  look  after  knapsack,  haversack,  canteen,  gun, 
cartridge  box,  and  whatever  appertains  to  their  care  and 
his  own  personal  welfare  within  the  limit  perscribed 
by  authority. 

From  the  19th  to  the  29th  of  January  the  transports, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        121 

loaded  with  troops,  lay  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Macon. 
Amid  storm  and  gale  they  rocked  their  human  freight 
with  various  effects  upon  individuals  and  masses. 

Maj.  Nash  and  the  Chaplain  had  gone  to  Newbern. 
The  Chaplain  most  assiduously  looked  after  the  mail. 
Whisky,  that  "  little  disturber"  made  a  little  friction 
among  the  officers  and  men,  but  to  no  serious  extent, 
but  what  was  easily  suppressed  by  the  authority  of  the 
commander. 

While  at  anchor  a  severe  gale  was  experienced,  and 
a  few  vessels  broke  loose,  and  one  caught  fire,  but  the 
flames  were  soon  extinguished.  The  men  and  officers 
were  very  impatient.  No  news ;  no  letters ;  no  papers ; 
nothing  but  blank  uncertainty.  The  clothing  and 
blankets  were  aired  on  the  upper  deck.  The  ring 
leaders  in  the  whisky  difficulty  were  arrested. 

Company  inspection  was  had  on  deck.  The  Chap 
lain  held  divine  service  in  the  cabin  on  Sunday,  Jan 
uary  25th.  A  few  of  the  officers  visited  Fort  Macon. 
It  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  when  the  war 
broke  out,  but  was  retaken  in  the  spring  of  1862,  by 
Gen.  Parkes.  It  is  built  of  earth,  but  riveted  with 
masonry,  and  casemated.  It  mounts  about  fifty  guns. 
At  this  time  it  was  garrisoned  by  four  companies,  com 
manded  by  a  lieutenant  of  regular  artillery. 

It  was  made  known  that  the  mail  would  be  detained 
at  Fortress  Monroe  till  the  expedition  had  reached  its 
destination.  However,  just  before  the  hour  of  start 
ing,  a  mail  found  its  way  to  the  ships,  to  the  great  joy 
of  all  who  had  been  so  closely  imprisoned  for  days. 


122        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

The  expense  of  transportation  of  troops  was  very  great, 
The  Cahaivba,  the  flag  ship,  was  estimated  to  carry 
fifteen  hundred  troops,  though  eleven  hundred  were 
all  that  could  be  comfortably  accommodated.  She 
was  chartered  by  the  government  for  eight  hundred 
dollars  per  day.  Before  the  troops  were  put  on  board 
she  was  supplied  with  thirty  thousand  rations,  fifteen 
thousand  gallons  of  water,  and  coal  for  twenty  days. 
The  arrangements  for  cooking  could  not  be  surpassed. 
Two  large  copper  boilers  had  been  arranged  to  boil 
eighty  gallons  of  coffee,  or  cook  five  hundred  pounds 
of  meat  at  one  time.  Everything  was  cooked  by  steam, 
by  means  of  a  pipe  communicating  with  the  steam 
boiler. 

As  far  as  practicable,  the  routine  of  camp  was  pre 
served  on  board  ship.  Health  demanded  that  clean 
liness  be  observed  daily.  The  same  provisions  had 
been  made  on  other  transports  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  troops  on  board. 

During  Wednesday,  January  28th,  a  severe  gale 
raged  all  day.  The  monotonous  rockings  of  the  ves 
sels  caused  much  seasickness.  The  fleet  put  to  sea 
Thursday,  January  29th,  before  the  effects  of  the  gale 
had  entirely  passed  away. 

Col.  Davis  thus  describes  the  appearance  of  the 
fleet :  "  The  sailing  vessels  took  the  lead,  and  it  was 
an  unusually  fine  sight  to  see  them  hoist  their  sails, 
like  birds  spreading  their  wings,  and  glide  away  over 
the  glittering  waters.  The  steamers  followed  in  the 
wake  of  the  flag  ship.  When  fairly  over  the  bar  I 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        123 

counted  thirty  vessels  in  sight  deployed  in  a  semi-circle 
of  several  miles  extent.     When  it  became  dark  there 
was  presented  one  of  the  most  charming  sights  I  have 
ever  witnessed  at  sea.     Each  steamer  carried  at  the 
mast-head  a  signal  lamp,  that  she  might  be  distin 
guished  in  the  darkness ;  and  the  many  colored  lights 
thus  displayed  behind  us  resembled  an  illuminated 
avenue  lit  up  by  fairy  hands.  The  motion  of  the  ves 
sels,  as  they  were  swayed  to  and  fro  by  the  moving 
waters,  added  greatly  to  the  picturesqueness  of  the 
scene.     This  watery  avenue  of  variegated  lights  fol 
lowed  us  through  the  night,  now  and  then  a  vessel 
dropping  so  far  astern  that  the  glimmer  of  her  lamp 
could  hardly  be  distinguished  from  the  twinkle  of  the 
most  distant  star."      When  off  the  mouth  of  Cape 
Fear  river,  on   which   Wilmington  is   situated,  the 
secret  instructions  were  opened,  and  our  destination 
made  known  for  the  first  time.     This  was  found  to  be 
Hilton  Head,  on  Port  Koyal  bay,  South  Carolina ;  and 
that  our  ultimate  destination  was  Charleston.     Much 
enthusiasm  was  manifested  among  the  men,  but  sub 
sequent  experience  proved  that  Charleston  w^as  a  very 
hard  nut  to  crack,  and  few  of  those  composing  the 
expedition  were  fortunate  to  be  in  at  the  death.     At 
Carolina  City  we  had    become  familiar  with  shelter 
tents  and  mother  earth.     The  rains  and  chilling  winds 
of  a  Southern  winter  were  a  sad  experience  to  us,  so 
recently  from  the  more  comfortable  quarters  of  civil 
life.     That  Southern  campaign  is  a  large  part  of  our 
military  history  as  a  regiment.     There,  as  everywhere, 
it  was  an  insatiable  desire  of  the  soldier,  ever  to  know 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

the  next  objective  point,  the  details  of  the  next  order. 
This  was  proof  of  the  superior  intelligence  of  our 
army.  Its  elements  were  sovereigns,  with  capacities  to 
judge  of  movements  and  predicate  results.  During 
the  passage  to  Port  Royal  many  officers  and  men 
were  very  sick,  and  subsequent  events  proved  that  we 
were  to  be  kept  some  time  longer  on  shipboard. 

Passing  Charleston  bar  heavy  firing  was  heard, 
which  proved  to  be  an  attack  upon  the  blockading  fleet. 
We  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Port  Royal,  on 
the  morning  of  the  31st  of  January. 

Monday,  February  2d.  The  regiment  went  ashore 
to  give  free  play  to  their  cramped  and  stiffened  limbs. 
The  vessel  during  their  absence  was  thoroughly 
cleansed.  Transports,  with  troops,  arrived  daily. 
The  regiment  embarked  again  to  await  orders.  We 
moved  farther  up  the  bay.  Port  Royal  harbor  is  well 
named ;  it  is  truly  a  royal  harbor,  with  a  breadth  of 
space  and  depth  of  water  sufficient  for  the  navies  of 
the  world. 

February  6th.  The  weather  is  cool,  rainy  and  dis 
agreeable,  though  there  are  prospects  of  going  on  shore. 
The  monitor  Passaic  is  anchored  near,  and  creates 
much  wonder  among  the  veteran  seamen  of  the  wooden 
navy.  Lieut.  Col.  Otis,  field  officer,  in  charge.  lie 
made  rounds  of  the  ship.  It  was  dull  and  monotonous 
on  board  the  vessel,  and  the  officers  and  men  were 
longing  for  active  duty. 

Sunday,  February  8th.  A  fatigue  party  was  sent 
ashore  to  dig  wells.  Divine  service  was  held  by  the 
Chaplain  in  the  afternoon. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        125 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

GEN.  NAGLEE'S  LETTER  AND   GENERAL   ORDER   TO   THE 

BOARD  OF  TRADE  OP  THE  CITY  OF  BUFFALO. THE 

NAMES  THE  GENERAL  RECOMMENDED  TO  BE  PLACED 
UPON  THEIR  FLAGS. HIS  REHEARSAL  OF  THEIR  SER 
VICES.  HIS  FINAL  CHEERING  WORDS  FOR  THEIR  FU 
TURE  WELFARE.  THE  REGIMENT  ASHORE  AT  ST. 

HELENA,  S.  C. PITCHING  CAMP,  DIGGING  WELLS  AND 

WASHING. SOME  DIFFICULTY  WITH  THE  NEGROES. 

CABINS  BURNED.  THE  WORK  OF  A  FEW  RESTLESS 

SPIRITS. 

Tip  the  Peninsula,  into  the  death  at  "  Fair  Oaks," 
on  the  retreat  to  Harrison's  Landing,  and  Gloucester 
Point,  thence  to  pitchy,  tarry,  turpentine  North 
Carolina ;  and  more,  to  within  hailing  distance  of  the 
very  center  of  the  origin  of  the  rebellion,  the  city  of 
Charleston ;  the  One  Hundredth  Eegiment  seems  des 
tined  to  play  a  part  in  the  coming  struggle  of  recover 
ing  Sumter  and  humbling  the  chivalry  of  the  Pal 
metto  State. 

Previous  to  leaving  Newbern,  North  Carolina,  Gen. 
Naglee  addressed  to  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Buflalo 
the  following  note  and  General  Orders  JSTo.  3 : 


126        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

HEADQUARTERS  NAGLEE' s  DIVISION,  ) 
NEWBERN,  N.  C.,  Jan.  13, 1863.       ) 

GENTLEMEN:  —  I  take  great  pleasure  in  enclosing  the  within 
order,  by  which  you  will  perceive  that  the  One  Hundredth  Regi 
ment  New  York  Volunteers,  well  worthy  of  your  kind  care  and 
patronage,  have  honored  themselves,  and  have  honored  you  and 
the  great  State  to  which  they  belong. 

Very  respectfully, 

HENRY  M.  NAGLEE,  B.  G. 
To  THE  HON.  THE  BOARD  OF  TRADE  OF  BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


HEADQUARTERS  NAGLEE' s  DIVISION, 

NEWBERN,  N.  C.,  Jan.  8th.,  1863. 
(GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  3.) 

The  several  regiments  of  the  late  First  Brigade,  commanded  by 
Gen.  Naglee,  will  inscribe  upon  their  banners  the  following  names, 
indicating  important  events  in  the  history  of  the  war,  in  which 
they  acted  a  conspicuous  part.  The  following  named  p]aces  will 
show  the  service  of  the  One  Hundredth  New  York :  Lee's  Mills, 
April,  1862.  Williamsburg,  May  5th,  1862.  Reconnoissance  to 
Seven  Pines,  May  24th,  25th  and  26th,  1862.  Seven  Pines  or  Fair 
Oaks,  May  31st,  1862.  Railroad  and  Bottom's  Bridges,  June  27th 
and  28th,  1862.  White  Oak  Swamp  Bridge,  June  30th,  1862. 
Carter's  Hill,  July  2d,  1862.  Gloucester,  Virginia,  Dec.  14th,  1862. 
Yorktown,  August  17th  to  Dec.  31st,  1862. 

The  General  lately  commanding  the  brigade  most  happily  takes 
this  occasion  to  congratulate  the  officers  and  soldiers  with  whom 
he  has  been  so  intimately  associated.  Whilst  memory  lasts,  it 
will  continually  recur  to  the  scenes  of  deprivation  and  danger,  and 
blood  and  battle  through  which  you  have  passed,  and  you  will  re 
member  your  inexperience  and  discontent,  and  then  your  disci 
pline  and  happy  affiliation. 

All  will  remember  with  regret  the  deadly  effects  of  the  swamps 
before  Yorktown.  You  were  the  first  in  the  advance  upon 
Williamsburg,  and  when  ordered  by  Gen.  McClcllan  to  support 
Gen.  Hancock,  the  enemy  gave  up  the  contest. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  at  Bottom's  bridge,  you  waded  waist  deep 
in  the  swamps  of  the  Chickahomiuy,  you  drove  away  the  enemy 
and  were  the  first  to  cross  that  stream.  On  the  24th,  25th  and  26th, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        127 

after  other  troops  had  foiled,  you  made  the  gallant  dashing  recon- 
noissance  of  the  Seven  Pines,  driving  the  superior  force  of  Gen. 
Stewart  from  Bottom's  bridge  to  within  four  and  a  half  miles  of 
Richmond,  the  position  nearest  that  city  ever  occupied  by  our 
troops.  On  the  31st  of  May  at  Fair  Oaks,  or  Seven  Pines,  occupy 
ing  the  above  advanced  position,  your  brigade  made  the  most  des 
perate,  bloody,  obstinate  fight  of  the  war,  and  while  we  mourn  the 
loss  of  one  half  of  our  comrades  in  war,  you  have  the  consolation 
of  knowing  that,  by  their  heroic  sacrifice,  and  your  stubborn  re 
sistance,  you  saved  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  from  great  disaster  . 

On  the  27th,  28th  and  29th  of  June,  the  rebel  Gen.  Jackson, 
hurled  his  immense  force  suddenly  upon  our  right  and  passed  that 
flank  of  the  army,  and  all  turned  with  extreme  solicitude  toward 
the  rear  at  Bottom's  bridge,  which,  if  crossed,  would  result  in  irre 
trievable  ruin ;  and  it  should  be  a  source  of  great  pride  and  satis 
faction  in  the  future  to  remember  that  all  this  intense  anxiety  was 
dispelled,  and  all  breathed  with  relief,  and  felt  secure,  when  it 
rapidly  ran  through  the  army  that  Naglee's  brigade  has  destroyed 
the  bridges,  and  stood  night  and  day  for  three  days  in  the  middle 
of  the  Chickahominy,  successfully  and  continually  resisting  his 
passage.  Again,  on  the  following  day  you  held  a  post  of  the 
greatest  importance  and  danger,  at  the  White  Oak  Swamp.  The 
most  determined  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  cross  the  bridge  in  pursuit 
of  our  army  were  thwarted  by  our  artillery,  and  you  stood  for  ten 
hours  supporting  it,  quiet  spectators  of  the  most  terrific  cannonade, 
while  other  regiments  were  only  kept  in  place  by  being  ordered 
back  when  they  approached  your  line.  Retreating  all  night  you 
stood  ready  in  position  on  the  following  day  expecting  to  be 
ordered  to  take  part  in  the  battle  at  Malvern  Hills. 

Retreating  again  all  night  at  Carter's  Hill  on  the  2d  of  July,  you 
stood  by  the  artillery  and  wagon  train,  and  when  all  expected  it 
would  be  destroyed,  you  brought  it  safely  to  Harrison's  Landing. 

During  December  you  destroyed  a  dozen  large  salt  works  in 
Mathews  county,  Virginia,  and  drove  the  Rangers  from  that  and 
Gloucester,  Middlesex,  and  King  and  Queen's  counties,  captured 
large  herds  of  cattle  intended  for  the  rebel  army,  and  destroyed  all 
their  barracks,  stables  and  stores. 

At  Yorktown,  from  August  to  the  end  of  December,  you  have 
restored  the  works  at  that  place  and  Gloucester  Point,  and  they 
are  by  your  labor  rendered  strong  and  defensible. 


128        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 

Thus  is  yours  the  honor  of  having  been  the  first  to  pass,  and  the 
last  to  leave  the  Chickahominy,  and  while  you  led  the  advance 
from  this  memorable  place  to  near  Richmond,  you  were  last  in 
the  retreating  column,  when  after  seven  days'  constant  fighting  it 
reached  a  place  of  security  and  rest  at  Harrison's  Landing. 

Your  descendants  for  generations  will  boast  of  your  gallant  con 
duct,  and  when  all  are  laid  in  the  dust,  history  will  still  proclaim 
the  glorious  deeds  performed  by  you.  Go  in!  "The  Truth  is 
mighty,  and  will  prevail."  Pretenders  for  a  time  may  rob  you  of 
your  just  deserts,  but,  as  you  have  experienced,  their  evil  report 
wTill  certainly  be  exposed,  for  your  many  friends  at  home,  ever 
watchful  and  identified  with  your  reputation,  will  see  that  justice 
shall  be  done. 

A  new  page  in  your  history  is  about  to  be  written ;  let  it  be  still 
more  brilliant  than  that  already  known.    Your  past  good  conduct 
has  won  the  warmest  esteem  and  confidence  of  your  late  brigade 
commander ;  he  has  no  apprehensions  of  the  future. 
By  command  of 

BHIG.-GEN.  HENRY  M.  NAGLEE, 

Commanding  Division. 
GEORGE  II.  JOHNSTON, 
Capt.  and  A.  A.  G. 


This  patriotic  order  created  much  just  enthusiasm 
among  the  troops  that  composed  Gen.  Naglee's  bri 
gade  during  those  perilous  scenes  enumerated  in  the 
succession  in  which  they  transpired.  Gen.  Naglee 
was  loved  by  his  men  for  his  courage,  his  loyalty  and 
his  trusty  reliability,  ever  present  in  times  of  danger, 
he  has  been  proudly  styled  "  a  thunderbolt  in  battle" 

To  return  and  take  up  the  loosened  thread  of  the 
One  Hundredth  Kegiment,  it  was  Ordered  to  disembark 
from  the  New  England,  February  10th,  1863.  Four 
companies  had  been  sent  ashore  the  day  before  to  pre 
pare  camp,  dig  wells  and  wash  their  clothes.  By  12  M. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        129 

the  regiment  was  all  ashore.  The  weather  was  of 
a  June  character,  days  warm,  nights  damp  and  cool. 
Encamped  in  a  cornfield,  a  low  and  unpleasant  spot. 
During  the  following  day  the  men  were  busily  en 
gaged  in  washing  their  clothes  along  the  small  streams 
near  the  camp.  It  was  a  great  relief  after  so  long 
confinement  on  ship,  to  walk  farther  than  a  vessel's 
length,  and  not  feel  that  monotonous  rocking  of  wave 
by  storm.  It  was  while  the  regiment  was  encamped 
in  this  place  that  the  unimportant  difficulty  arose 
with  a  few  negroes  residing  in  shanties,  or  cabins, 
near  by.  Restless  spirits  from  the  regiments  about 
were  prowling  around  for  chickens,  pigs,  or  anything 
that  would  savor  of  adventure,  when  by  accident  the 
cabins  were  lighted  and  consumed;  and  reporters 
filled  Northern  papers  with  tales  of  mutiny  and  in 
subordination,  all  of  which  were  without  substantial 
foundation. 
6* 


130        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

CAMP    ON    ST.    HELENA    REMOVED    ONE    AND  A  HALF  MILES. 
—  CAMP     PITCHED,    CLEARED     AND     REGULARLY     LAID 

OUT. THE     ISLAND    OF     ST.    HELENA.  ABSENCE    OF 

STONES.  LOCALITY  OF  CAMP.  ARRIVAL  OF  MAIL. — 

ITS    INFLUENCES    UPON     THE     MEN.  DRILLS,    INSPEC 
TIONS    AND    REVIEWS. GEN.  NAGLEE    REVIEWS    TWO 

BRIGADES.  GOOD     RATIONS,     BEEF     AND      BREAD.  - 

DIFFICULTY     BETWEEN     GENS.    FOSTER,    NAGLEE     AND 

HUNTER. STRIFE  SETTLED  BY  ADJT.  GEN.  THOMAS. — 

GEN.    NAGLEE     ORDERED     NORTH   TO    REPORT   TO   THE 
AVAR    OFFICE. HIS    FAREWELLS. 

Friday,  February  13th.  The  regiment  was  ordered 
to  remove  its  camp  one  and  a  half  miles  north.  The 
day  was  warm,  and  to  us,  who  at  this  season  of  the 
year  had  been  accustomed  to  the  storms  of  snow,  and 
chills  of  frosty  winter  at  the  North,  it  seemed,  at  least, 
a  novelty  and  an  innovation  upon  the  expectations  of 
our  organisms.  But  for  out-door  living  it  was  not  ob 
jectionable,  but  on  the  contrary  very  agreeable.  The 
camp  was  laid  out  in  regular  order.  The  small  under 
brush  soon  disappeared,  and  not  only  the  camp,  front 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        131 

and  rear,  but  places  for  dress  parade,  and  also  for  daily 
drills,  were  cleared,  leveled  and  ready  for  the  use  of 
the  regiment  in  a  very  few  days.  Eations  that  had 
been  scarce  were  now  abundant. 

A  singularity  was  apparent  in  the  absence  of  stone. 
There  was  none  to  be  found  on  the  island.  We  were 
encamped  on  the  island  of  St.  Helena,  which  is  sixteen 
miles  in  length  and  from  one  to  three  miles  in  width. 
The  soil  is  of  a  light,  sandy  nature,  but  of  marvellous 
richness.  A  large  portion  of  the  island  was  covered 
witli  pine  timber.  It  was  divided  into  about  eighty 
plantations,  averaging  some  three  hundred  acres  each, 
when  the  war  began,  but  the  owners  fled  and  left  them 
in  possession  of  the  negroes.  It  is  said  that  the  land 
will  yield  as  high  as  three  hundred  pounds  of  cotton 
per  acre,  which  brought  over  two  dollars  per  pound 
during  the  wTar. 

The  location  of  the  camp  of  the  One  Hundredth,  as 
well  as  the  camps  of  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  was  healthy 
and  pleasant  and  close  to  the  shore  of  the  wride  spread 
ing  bay.  Water  was  obtained  by  sinking  barrels  in 
the  sand,  which,  often  one  above  the  other,  formed  a 
regular  tube  to  prevent  the  sand  from  falling  into  them. 
The  surface  water  thus  leached  through  the  light  soil 
afforded  fair  water  for  drinking  and  other  purposes. 

Labor  on  camp  continued  steadily  till  wells  were 
dug,  company  streets  policed,  and  bunks  raised  from  the 
sand  by  means  of  poles  from  the  adjoining  wood. 
The  usual  military  regularity  was  soon  manifested 
in  the  successive  orders  which  Col.  Dandy  issued 


132        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

daily  for  the  physical  comfort  and  convenience  of  the 
men. 

Saturday,  February  14th.  A  large  mail  made  its 
appearance  in  camp.  Newspapers  from  home  were 
fluttering  everywhere,  while  in  the  hands  of  officers 
and  men  could  be  seen  those  letter-messengers  of  com 
fort,  encouragement  and  assurances  from  loyal  wives, 
sisters  and  mothers.  Our  army  was  a  reading  army. 
Save  the  few  selfish  hearts  at  home  whose  love  of  coun 
try  was  as  uncultivated  as  the  trifling  adventurer,  these 
welcome  letters  were  successful  warriors,  for  they 
strengthened  the  soldier's  arm  and  held  him  to  country, 
home  and  God. 

The  men,  as  a  rule,  were  more  content  after  the  re 
ceipt  of  a  mail,  except  now  and  then  a  father  and  hus 
band  whose  heartless  wife  was  ever  thrusting  the 
thorns  of  complaint  into  the  already  overburdened 
heart,  demanding,  without  reason,  money,  when  the 
thing  was  a  stranger  in  camp  for  months.  Such  knew 
nothing  of  the  issue  at  stake,  and  caring  less,  were  kill 
ing  slowly  the  only  hope  in  the  bosoms  of  their  husbands 
by  harrassing  them  into  disease  and  ultimate  death. 
But  aside  from  all  drawbacks,  the  advent  of  a  mail 
in  camp  was  an  evidence  of  a  stronger  patriotism, 
and  a  deeper  determination  to  resist  the  demons 
bent  on  the  destruction  of  this  government.  It  was 
the  extension  of  the  home  strength,  that  latent 
power  which  fed  patriots  and  gave  sacrifices  for 
fatherland. 

Company  and  battalion  drills  were  ordered,  and  the 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        133 

men  made  wonderful  proficiency  in  marching  and  the 
manual  of  arms. 

On  the  19th  of  February,  Gen.  2s"aglee  held  a  grand 
review  of  two  brigades.  The  men  improved  their  op 
portunities  of  washing  their  clothes  and  cleaning  their 
arms  and  accoutrements.  The  regiment  at  this  time 
was  in  splendid  condition. 

Saturday,  February  21st.  Col.  Dandy  and  Maj. 
Kash  went  to  Hilton  Head,  and  the  men  cleaned  camp 
for  the  inspections  of  Sabbath.  Sunday,  in  military 
annals,  is  a  day  of  inspection,  review,  and  generally 
of  battle.  The  soldier  is  supposed  to  be  in  better  con 
dition  on  Sabbath  in  respect  to  all  things  that  make 
the  soldier,  and  then  his  haversack  is  usually  supplied 
with  rations ;  in  short,  he  is  more  of  a  soldier  and 
man  on  Sabbath  than  on  any  other  day  of  the  week. 

During  our  stay  at  Hilton  Head  and  on  the  island 
of  St.  Helena  we  were  abundantly  supplied  with  good 
rations  of  fresh  beef  three  days  in  every  ten,  and  nice 
fresh  bread  daily  from  the  government  bakery  at 
Beaufort.  The  Colonel  did  not  lose  the  opportunity 
of  establishing  a  school  of  instruction,  as  so  few  volun 
teer  officers  knew  scarcely  anything  of  military  tactics. 

I  often  wondered  what  could  be  the  estimation  of 
Col.  Dandy,  with  a  military  culture,  of  the  volunteer 
officer  who  found  himself  in  charge  of  men  with  no 
kind  of  military  knowledge  whatever.  Surely  the  es 
timation  must  have  been  light,  though  in  charity  the 
men  were  willing  to  advance  for  the  good  of  country 
and  home. 


134        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

Saturday,  February  28th.  Col.  Dandy  mustered  the 
regiment  for  pay.  The  common  soldier  on  the  island 
of  St.  Helena  could  feel  in  the  wind  that  some  little 
or  great  difficulty  existed  in  the  department,  though 
no  direct  knowledge  reached  his  ears.  We  have 
learned  since  what  we  could  not  know  at  the  time  in 
a  subordinate  position.  Col.  Davis,  commanding  bri 
gade,  has  given  the  whole  matter  in  his  admirable 
history  of  his  own  regiment,  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fourth  Pennsylvania.  Delay  was  caused  by  the  apple 
of  discord  being  eaten  by  the  generals. 

The  attack  upon  Charleston  had  been  arranged  at 
Washington  by  Gens.  Hunter  and  Foster  in  Decem 
ber,  and  he  and  Hunter  were  to  make  a  combined  at 
tack  of  army  and  navy  upon  Charleston  eafly  in  tlir 
year.  When  they  came  together  neither  would  g' 
up  to  the  other.  Gen.  Hunter  was  the  ranking  offi 
cer,  and  had  the  advantage.  Gen.  Foster  could  not 
leave  at  once,  and  Gen.  Naglee  was  put  in  conn  iid 
of  the  forces  brought  down.  On  our  ai^val  Gen. 
Hunter  issued  an  order  incorporating  Foster's  Eight 
eenth  Army  Corps  troops  with  the  Tenth  Corps,  and 
destroying  the  distinctive  organization.  Our  trans 
portation  was  ordered  over  to  the  quartermaster  at 
Hilton  Head.  Gen.  Naglee,  who  was  always  ready  for 
a  fight  with  pen  or  sword,  took  up  the  cudgels  for  his  ab 
sent  chief.  The  fight  waxed  warm  and  both  parties  ap 
pealed.  Naglee  got  a  little  the  start  of  Hunter.  Adjt. 
Gen.  Townsend  was  sent  to  Hilton  Head  to  arrange 
matters.  Hunter's  order  was  revoked.  Hunter  placed 


SAMUELS. KELLOGG. 
l?JLieut.lOOi!>  Re^l-  N.YS.Vols. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        135 

the  staff  officers  of  Foster  under  arrest,  and  ordered 
them  to  leave  the  department.  Gen.  Naglee  opened 
011  Hunter  again,  which  resulted  in  the  former  being 
sent  to  New  York  with  orders  to  report  to  the  adjutant 
general  of  the  army.  This  is  a  sample  of  the  quarrels 
which  interfered  with  the  efficiency  of  the  army  during 
the  war.  In  this  case  the  service  lost  one  of  its  most 
gallant  officers  without  cause.  He  was  the  life  of  the 
expedition,  active  and  energetic  and  had  the  entire 
confidence  of  the  troops.  On  the  contrary,  Gen. 
Hunter  was  disliked,  and  neither  officers  nor  men  had 
the  least  confidence  in  his  abilities.  The  commis 
sioned  officers  of  Gen.  JSTaglee's  old  brigade  waited  on 
him  with  music.  He  received  them  on  the  steamer  at 
the  wharf.  An  address  was  tendered  him  expressive 
of  his  gallantry  and  patriotism.  He  replied  in  elo 
quent  terms.  The  officers  of  Heckman's  brigade  and 
Ferry's  division  paid  their  respects,  and  in  the  evening 
he  was  serenaded  by  the  band  of  the  Tenth  Connecti 
cut.  Gen.  Ferry  succeeded  Gen.  Naglee  in  command. 
Thus  is  explained  an  affair  between  generals  which 
consumed  months  of  time  and  thousands  of  dollars. 


136        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

GEN.  NAGLEE'S  FAR-WELL  ORDER. —  ST.  HELENA  ISLAND, 
ITS  BEAUTY,  FERTILITY  AND  POSITION. GRAND  RE 
VIEW  BY  GEN.  HUNTER. COMPANY,  BATTALION  AND 

BRIGADE    DRILLS. RIGID   INSPECTIONS. EXERCISE 

IN  LANDING  FROM  TRANSPORTS. IGNORANCE  OF  THE 

COMMON  SOLDIER  OF  COMING  EVENTS. COL.  DANDY'S 

SPECIAL  ORDER  TO  THE  ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT 
N.  Y.  V. MARCHING  ORDERS. THE  PROCESS  OF  AR 
RESTS,  AND  THEIR  DISPOSITION. THE  WASHING  DAYS 

OF  A  REGIMENT. 

Previous  to  the  departure  of  Gen.  Naglee,  as  re 
lated  in  the  preceding  chapter,  he  issued  the  following 
general  order : 

HEADQUARTERS  NAGLEE'S  DIVISION,       ) 
ST.  HELENA  ISLAND,  S.  C.,  March  5th,  1863.  \ 

(GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  12.) 

Officers  and  soldiers  of  my  division  and  brigade : — I  have  been 
released  of  my  command  over  you,  and  have  been  ordered  else 
where.  Let  me  entreat  you  to  render  implicit  obedience  to  every 
order.  Kemember  the  sacred  cause  of  our  country  for  which  we 
have  sacrificed  our  homes  and  exposed  our  lives.  Go  on,  and  add 
to  the  good  name  your  gallant  conduct  has  so  justly  won,  and  as 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.       137 

before,  again  will  we  exclaim,  "  Truth  is  mighty,  and  will  prevail." 
With  an  affectionate  remembrance  of  the  past,  and  a  confidence  in 
the  future,  I  bid  you  farewell,  and  with  all  my  heart,  God  bless  you. 

BRIG.  GEN.  H.  M.  NAGLEE, 
Commanding  Division  and  Department. 

A  feeble  description  would  fail  to  tell  of  the  rare 
beauty  of  the  island  of  St.  Helena.  Much,  of  course, 
is  due  to  the  climate  and  the  absence  of  severe  chilling 
weather.  Everything  is  royal.  The  harbor  and  bay 
extended  are  royal.  The  islands  all  are  queenly  gems. 
The  beauty  and  fragrance  of  the  orange  and  oleander, 
and  the  songs  of  the  birds,  were  full  of  delightful  hints 
to  the  soldiers  of  home  and  its  blessings. 

The  island  is  an  earthly  paradise,  and  we  think  that 
the  men  render  a  silent  and  richly  deserved  homage 
to  all  of  nature's  tropical  provisions,  so  bountifully 
lavished  upon  these  fruitful  islands.  However  pleas 
ing  to  the  soldier,  the  island  camp,  and  whatever 
privileges  were  enjoyed,  the  impression  was  fixed  that 
to  leave  was  the  end  to  the  beginning,  and  that  soon 
our  backs  must  be  turned  upon  the  beauties  of  the 
sea-girt  isle,  and  its  memories  only  remain. 

February  24th.  Gen.  Hunter  had  a  grand  review 
of  two  divisions.  We  marched  about  two  miles  and 
returned  to  camp  at  2-J  P.  M.  An  inspection  was  or 
dered  by  Capt.  Jackson.  The  men  had  put  forth 
every  effort,  assisted  by  their  officers,  and  the  provisions 
of  the  Colonel,  to  make  a  creditable  appearance  and  a 
favorable  impression ;  all  of  which,  as  the  sequel 
proved,  was  accomplished. 


138        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

Company,  battalion  and  brigade  drills  were  had 
amid  the  dust,  and  under  the  scorching  rays  of  a  sum 
mer  sun,  though  only  the  middle  of  March.  Col. 
Davis,  whose  brigade  headquarters  were  on  the  left  of 
the  camp  of  the  One  Hundredth,  drilled  the 'brigade. 
Col.  Dandy  drilled  the  non-commissioned  officers  in 
skirmish  drill,  and  alternately  the  companies  were 
drilled  in  the  same  manner.  Regiments  were  practiced 
in  turn  to  land  from  transports  in  small  boats  on  the 
beach,  to  enable  them  to  land  at  any  point  with 
facility,  security  and  success.  In  consequence  of 
sickness  Capt.  P.  Edwin  Dye,  of  Co.  "  II,"  resigned 
and  returned  North,  taking  with  him  his  colored  ser 
vant,  Washington,  a  servant  known  and  well  treated 
by  every  officer  and  man  in  the  regiment.  Capt.  John 
Nicholson,  of  Co.  "  C,"  was  also  discharged  while  the 
regiment  tarried  on  the  island.  Changes  were  being 
constantly  made,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the 
roll  of  commissioned  officers  at  the  close  of  the  volume. 
Col.  Davis  and  Col.  Dandy  united  in  drilling  the 
brigade.  Troops  had  made  progress  for  the  weeks 
that  they  had  been  detained  on  the  island,  and  now 
the  fact  was  snuffed  from  the  air  that  thoughts  of 
leaving  must  be  entertained.  The  knowledge  of  the 
island  was  limited  to  the  common  soldier.  But  field 
officers,  and  sometimes  officers  of  the  line,  had  per 
mission  to  visit  Hilton  Head,  Beaufort  and  contiguous 
islands,  but  the  rank  and  file  could  only  look  above 
and  up  and  down  the  company  street,  and  wait  the 
order  for  movement.  It  came.  The  One  Hundredth 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        139 

Regiment,  for  its  large  numbers,  perfection  on  inspec 
tion  and  general  military  bearing,  was  selected  as  the 
regiment  to  make  the  advance  upon  Charleston.  To 
take  and  hold  Cole's  island  was  the  first  step  in  the  act 
to  reduce  that  rebellious  city. 

Struck  tents  March  22d,  and  the  regiment  was  ready 
to  move  at  4  P.  M. 

Previous  to  the  departure  of  the  regiment,  Col. 
Dandy  issued  the  following  order : 

HEADQUARTERS  ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT,  K  Y.  V. 
ST.  HELENA  ISLAND,  March,  18G3. 

(SPECIAL  ORDER  No.  67.) 

It  will  seem  scarcely  necessary  at  this  late  day  to  inform  the 
officers  and  men  of  this  regiment,  that  the  nation  is  in  its  greatest 
and  perhaps  final  conflict  with  the  rebellion.  The  Colonel  has  con 
fidence  that  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  will  not  deface,  by  bad 
conduct,  the  lustre  of  its  renown  at  the  Seven  Pines.  The  name 
of  the  One  Hundredth  after  the  coming  battle  will  become  a  house 
hold  word,  not  only  at  the  hearth  and  in  the  homes  of  the  Empire 
State,  but  its  deeds  will  go  down  to  posterity  in  the  histories  which 
will  be  made,  when  the  present  generation  has  passed  away. 

To  accomplish,  then,  the  expectations  of  our  friends  and  kin 
dred,  the  most  rigid  and  unrelenting  discipline  must  be  enforced. 
It  is  alone  by  this  means  that  wre  can  achieve  success.  Let  every 
officer  and  soldier  of  this  regiment  act  then  in  good  faith  with  the 
obligations  he  assumes  in  taking  voluntarily  upon  himself  the  mili 
tary  character. 

G.  B.  DANDY, 

Col.  Commanding. 

LEOPOLD  EVERT, 

Lieut,  and  Acting  Adj't. 

We  will  add  in  this  connection  a  few  words  upon 
the  matter  of  military  arrests.  Almost  as  a  necessity 
they  were  frequent  among  officers  and  men.  The 


140        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

men,  fast  becoming  soldiers,  by  order  and  discipline, 
often  obtained  their  knowledge  by  suffering  the  in 
tense  mental  pain  of  a  military  arrest  and  punishment. 
So  recent  as  sovereigns,  masters  of  their  own  actions, 
it  was  not  surprising  that  too  often  they  forgot  in 
manner,  speech  and  action,  that  they  were  under  the 
eye  and  order  of  a  severe  and  rigid  military  ruler  in 
the  person  of  the  Colonel  commanding. 

We  do  not  intend  to  speak  of  the  character  of  the 
punishments  inflicted  upon  the  persons  of  the  men. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  they  were  of  a  military  character, 
and  can  justly  be  called  relics  of  barbarism  and  disgrace 
ful  to  an  enlightened  and  humane  people.  Without  the 
mention  of  any  individual  officer,  or  man,  the  writer 
can  evidence  the  intense  agony  of  an  arrest ;  where, 
through  ignorance  of  an  order  or  law,  a  man  is  made 
to  feel  that  the  eyes  of  informers  are  upon  him  at 
every  step,  and  perhaps  the  next  act  will  add  to  his 
crime  and  involve  him  deeper  into  difficulty.  In  the 
case  of  an  officer,  his  sword  is  taken  from  him,  charges 
are  preferred  in  due  form,  he  is  tried  by  a  competent 
court  martial,  censured,  reprimanded,  dismissed,  or 
acquitted.  In  the  case  of  a  common  soldier,  he  is  ar 
rested,  sent  to  the  guard-house  built  for  that  purpose, 
charges  preferred  by  his  commander,  tried  by  the 
colonel,  lieutenant  colonel  or  major,  constituting  the 
court,  punished,  fined,  his  pay  stopped  or  acquitted,  as 
the  evidence  warrants.  These  things  were  constantly 
occurring.  Hence  much  of  military  knowledge  was 
the  result  of  individual  suffering ;  and  it  was  not 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

surprising  that  men  so  recently  citizens,  were  restive 
under  restraint  and  the  restrictions  of  military  power. 
The  washing  days  of  a  regiment  after  a  march  or 
confinement  on  ship,  were  busy  scenes  of  industry 
and  cleanliness.  If  the  mothers,  wives  and  sisters  of 
these  soldiers  could  have  seen  the  sight,  it  would  have 
been  photographed  in  memory  as  novel  and  entertain 
ing.  Lessons  of  patience  and  dogged  perseverence 
could  have  been  taken,  and  while  they  admired,  they 
would  never  after  wished  to  be  relieved  from  cleansing 
the  garments  of  loved  ones,  enduring  and  suffering 
for  firesides,  far  away.  The  shores  of  every  pond 
and  the  banks  of  brook  and  stream  were  lined  with 
these  modern  washer- women ;  while  twig,  branch  and 
shrub  were  laden  with  the  dripping  garments  of  these 
faithful  knights  of  water  and  soap.  The  reality  will 
attend  the  living  soldier  through  his  after  years. 


142        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

REGIMENT  STRUCK  TENTS  ON  ST.  HELENA,  AND  MARCHED  TO 

TRANSPORT  EXPOUNDER, EMBARKED. DISEMBARKED 

AT  HILTON   HEAD. CHANGED  GUNS. EMBARKED.  — 

SAILED    FOR    STONO    INLET. AGROUND    ON   A   BAR.— 

CROSSED    SAFELY. ENCAMPED    ON    COLE7S  ISLAND.— 

UNSUPPORTED      FOR      SEVERAL      DAYS. TROOPS      AR 
RIVED.  LANDED     ON     FOLLY     ISLAND. SKIRMISHED 

AND    SCOUTED    THE    ENTIRE    ISLAND. THE    DIFFICUL 
TIES,  SUFFERINGS  AND  DELAYS  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN. 

As  stated,  in  obedience  to  orders,  the  regiment  was 
ready  to  move  at  4  P.  M.,  but  finally  bivouacked  for 
the  night. 

Monday,  March  23d.  The  One  Hundredth  Begi- 
ment  left  its  now  skeleton  camp  of  rude  bunks,  airy 
arbors,  company  streets,  and  parade  ground,  and  took 
up  its  line  of  march  by  the  quarters  of  the  brigade 
commander, Col.  Davis,  through  lines  of  soldiers  swarm 
ing  on  either  hand,  whose  camps  were  still  untouched 
by  the  magic  order  of  march ;  and  bidding  adieu  to  that 
isle  of  the  bay  went  on  board  the  steamer  Expounder,  a 
vessel  long  since  deserted  by  rats,  and  steamed  to 


One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers.        143 

Hilton  Head,  where  we  went  on  shore  to  exchange 
the  Enfield  for  new  Austrian  rifles,  after  which  we  em 
barked.  The  weather  was  damp,  foggy  and  cool. 

During  Tuesday,  March  24th,  we  lay  off  Hilton 
Head.  Col.  Dandy  went  on  shore.  The  steamer 
coaled.  Officers  and  men  uneasy.  The  next  morning 
sailed  at  5  o'clock.  Seasickness  prevailed.  Reached 
the  bar  at  Stono  Inlet  at  12  M.,  too  late  to  cross,  and 
dropped  back  to  the  Edisto  river  to  w^ait  till  morning. 
Sailed  for  Cole's  Island  at  8  A.  M.  Grounded  at  10 
A.  M.  Perils  surrounded  us.  Lake,  river  and  canal 
culture  were  now  invaluable.  Half  of  the  regiment 
was  transferred  to  that  crazy  river  boat,  the  Belmdiere, 
that  had  held  us  from  Gloucester  Point  to  Carolina 
City.  The  remainder  stood  in  solid  column  awaiting 
tide  or  destruction.  Tide  saved  us.  The  gunboat  aid 
ing  us  had  grounded  also.  But  the  tide  cleared  her, 
and  with  the  hawser,  which  was  attached  to  the  Ex 
pounder,  the  gunboat,  with  the  assistance  of  the  tide, 
rescued  the  worthless  hulk  with  its  living  freight  from 
apparent  destruction.  Morning  dawned,  the  bar  was 
crossed  and  in  smooth  waters  we  lay  alongside  of  the 
gunboat  Pawnee. 

It  was  11  P.  M.  before  the  Expounder  was  free 
from  the  treacherous  bar.  The  captain  and  crew  had 
seemingly  lost  all  hopes.  The  surf  ran  too  high  at 
night-fall  for  continued  operations  of  transfer.  The 
crew  and  boats  were  under  guard.  Coal  and  provi 
sions  were  ordered  overboard.  The  gunnybags  were 
brought  from  the  hold.  As  the  boat  slowly  slid  from 


144        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

the  bar,  we  felt  saved.  Parted  arches,  and  steam  pipe 
closed,  and  no  holes  in  the  bottom  of  the  leaky  craft 
to  change  the  character  of  our  joy.  Though  we  slept 
but  little,  still  it  was  a  rest  to  feel  that  we  had  been 
spared  from  disastrous  shipwreck.  Following  a  night 
of  so  much  anxiety,  was  a  morning  quiet  and  beautiful. 
The  bay  was  a  mirror.  The  gunboat  Pawnee  was 
anchored  near,  a  fine  specimen  of  our  wooden  navy, 
neatly  modelled,  cleanly  kept  and  heavily  armed. 
The  regiment  commenced  to  disembark  at  8  A.  M., 

o 

and  encamped  at  once,  on  the  beach,  a  little  above  tide 
water  mark.  The  ground  in  front  was  rising,  a  protec 
tion  from  observation.  The  town  of  Legareville  lay 
in  front,  still  and  deserted.  On  our  left  was  the  mouth 
of  Stono  river,  and  that  of  Folly  at  the  right.  The 
island  in  front  was  covered  with  large  trees,  and  its 
surface  was  quite  uneven.  There  was  a  narrow  cause 
way  or  dyke  connecting  Coles  with  James  island.  A 
lookout  was  erected.  A  battery  of  two  guns  was 
stationed  and  the  work  of  Capt.  L.  S.  Payne,  of  Co. 
"D,"  commenced  as  the  scout,  living,  accompanied  with 
a  few  picked  men,  almost  continually  within  the  lines 
of  the  enemy.  He  was  the  outer  line,  the  only  real 
scource  of  information  that  Col.  Dandy  could  com 
mand. 

Our  expedition  began  to  take  definite  form.  The 
One  Hundredth  Eegiment  had  been  detached  from  Col. 
Davis'  brigade,  and  now  with  the  Eighty-fifth  Penn 
sylvania,  Thirty-ninth  Illinois,  and  Sixty-second  Ohio, 
was  known  as  HowelFs  brigade.  As  yet  the  One 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  £  Volunteers.        145 

Hundredth  was  unsupported,  and  alone,  save  by  the 
gunboats  in  the  inlet. 

March  30th.  Gen.  Hunter  issued  a  confidential 
circular  to  the  respective  commanders,  which  desig 
nated  the  troops  for  the  expedition,  and  their  organiza 
tion.  They  consisted  of  three  divisions  of  infantry,  a 
brigade  of  artillery,  a  light  battery  and  a  battalion  of 
engineers.  The  whole  numbered  over  sixteen  thou 
sand  men.  Immense  quantities  of  material  had  been 
provided.  As  named,  the  One  Hundredth  ]STew  York 
Regiment,  from  its  numbers,  and  reputed  morale,  was 
to  lead  the  advance.  The  camp  was  pitched  five  yards 
from  high  tide.  Lieut.  Col.  Otis  posted  the  pickets. 
There  were  ten  posts  and  ten  men  at  each  post.  Capt. 
Payne  was  the  wandering  post.  A  road  was  made 
along  the  picket  line.  The  commissary  stores  were 
brought  ashore.  Rumors  of  assault  by  the  rebels,  but 
proved  unfounded.  They  knew  too  well  the  orotund 
voices  of  the  hundred-pounder  parrotts  on  board  the 
Pawnee. 

Promotions  were  made,  as  vacancies  occurred  by 
resignation  and  discharge.  ]S~on-commissioned  officers 
of  experience  were  not  forgotten.  John  McMann,  of 
Co.  "C,"  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant ;  L.  D. 
Howell,  of  Co.  "B,"  to  second  lieutenant,  and  other 
promotions  from  second  to  first  lieutenant  had  been 
made :  that  of  Lieuts.  Everts  and  Coleman.  Col. 
Dandy  had  recommended  his  brother,  James  H. 
Dandy,  as  first  lieutenant,  from  another  regiment,  and 
who  subsequently  was  promoted  to  captain  and  major 


146        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

of  the  regiment,  and  killed  at  Fort  Grigg ;  an  officer 
of  rare  culture,  a  gentleman,  and  universally  liked  by 
both  officers  and  men.  William  Bonsell,  a  member 
of  a  New  York  battery,  was  commissioned  as  second 
lieutenant,  but  was  subsequently  dismissed.  Charles 
E.  Walbridge,  of  Co.  "H,"  had  been  commissioned 
as  first  lieutenant,  and  April  14th,  1863,  was  commis 
sioned  as  captain.  He  was  relieved  from  duty  as 
brigade  quartermaster  and  returned  to  his  company. 
No  rebels  seen.  During  our  encampment  on  Cole's 
island  the  weather  was  rainy,  windy  and  disagreeable. 
Commenced  to  build  a  dock. 

March  30th.  Moved  camp  from  beach  to  woods,  some 
twenty  rods.  The  dock  was  completed,  and  a  guard 
house  built.  Col.  Dandy  went  on  gunboat,  on  a  recon- 
noissance. 

April  3d,  Friday.  Six  transports  arrived  inside  the 
bar  with  troops.  The  One  Hundredth  had  commenced 
to  throw  up  rifle  pits  in  front  of  camp,  but  were  or 
dered  to  suspend,  and  move  to  Folly  island.  Four  regi 
ments  landed  on  Cole's  island, which,  with  the  One  Hun 
dredth,  constituted  the  brigade  already  mentioned. 

April  5 tli.  The  regiment  struck  tents  at  4  P.  M., 
went  on  transports  at  10  P.  M.,  and  wras  beached  from 
small  boats,  on  the  south  point  of  Folly  island,  in  the 
surf,  an  ebb  tide,  water  breast  high,  two  hundred 
yards  from  shore.  That  was  a  struggle  for  the  soldier 
with  his  armor  on,  and  as  for  us,  we  felt  our  safety 
to  be  in  the  presence  of  the  tall  forms  about  us, 
buoying  us  on  to  the  shore  of  sand  and  barrenness. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        147 

The  tide  was  running  out,  and  hence  the  difficulty  of 
landing.  It  was  1  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  the 
regiment  stood  on  shore.  Marched  till  9  A.  M., 
halted  till  12  M.,  lunched,  rested,  and  marched  till  1 
P.  M.  Cos.  "  D,"  "  K  "  and  "  C  "  constituted  the  ad 
vanced  guard.  Co.  "  K,"  Capt.  Granger,  skirmished 
the  entire  island.  Lieut.  Col.  Otis  was  in  command, 
assisted  by  Maj.  Nash.  Col.  Dandy  remained  behind 
on  Cole's  island. 

As  each  soldier  calls  to  mind  that  night's  work  of  em 
barking  from  Cole's  island,  and  disembarking  on  the 
shores  of  Folly  island,  the  struggle  with  the  tide,  boats 
beached  and  whole  companies  in  water  breast  high, 
moving  toward  dry  ground ;  led  by  Col.  Otis,  in  that 
march  along  the  beach,  the  sun  shining  warmly,  the 
"halts,"  and  "forwards,"  as  the  skirmishers  felt  their 
way  through  the  tangled  thickets  of  that  uninhabited 
isle ;  the  halt  at  noonday,  the  lunch  and  rest,  prepa 
ratory  to  the  advance ;  as  the  soldier  remembers  all 
these  events,  he  is  startled  in  thought,  and  at  this  date, 
asks  himself  the  question  :  Was  I  there  ?  Is  it  not  a 
dream?  ~No  !  ~No  ! !  It  is  a  vivid  reality,  a  real  fact, 
which  the  shadows  of  coining  vears  cannot  cover  or 

O    */ 

hide  from  contemplative  thought.  A  campaign  had 
been  opened.  A  battle  with  other  enemies  than  that 
of  our  fellow-countrymen  was  to  be  fought.  A  strug 
gle  with  clime,  vermin  and  delays,  filled  the  head  and 
heart  of  the  soldier  during  his  sojourn  on  those  desert 
sandy  isles.  The  land!  ng  was  the  openi  ng  of  an  avenue 
crowded  with  death  and  disaster. 


148        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

THE    SIEGE    OF    CHARLESTON. FORT    SUMTER. ITS    FIRST 

REDUCTION.  ITS     REINFORCEMENT.  THE    LEAVING 

OF  THE    WOMEN    AND    CHILDREN. THE    ACTIVITY    OF 

THE    NATIONAL    GOVERNMENT. THE     BASE    OF    OPER 
ATIONS     AT    PORT     ROYAL. FORMER     REDUCTION     OF 

ALL    THE    FORTS    AND     TOWNS     ALONG     THE     COAST.— 
DESERTION    OF  BEAUFORT.    --   EXPEDITIONS  TO  STONO 

RIVER   AND   JAMES    ISLAND. REBEL   FORTIFICATIONS. 

—  FORT    SUMTER    TO    BE    REDUCED. 

In  connection  with  the  mention  of  dates,  facts,  and 
the  personal  record  of  individual  officers  and  men  of 
the  regiment,  we  have  endeavored  to  give  a  condensed 
history  of  the  rebellion  in  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Snmter,  which  as  a  work  to  be  reduced,  with  that  of 
Wagner  on  Morris  island,  constituted  a  large  share  of 
the  service  in  which  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  so 
conspicuously  cooperated.  At  this  date  the  siege  of 
Charleston  is  a  fact  of  memory,  a  wonder  of  sensation, 
a  grand  display  of  ponderous  artillery,  the  like  of  which 
the  world  had  never  seen.  Long  ere  the  northern  heart 
was  fired  with  the  necessity  of  crushing  secession  by 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        149 

force  of  arms,  Maj.  Robert  Anderson,  apparently  for 
saken  by  government,  felt  the  instant  need  of  self- 
protection,  as  against  the  blood-thirsty  renegades  of 
South  Carolina.  The  explosions  and  illuminations  at 
Fort  Moultrie,  gave  evidence  to  the  chivalry  of  Charles 
ton,  that,  as  a  military  work,  it  was  abandoned ;  and 
the  stars  and  stripes  floating  over  Snmter  told  of  the 
prompt  measures  of  the  loyal  Anderson  in  his  exchange 
of  positions,  that  national  honor  might  be  maintained. 
From  the  occupation  of  Sumter  till  the  hour  of  its  de 
struction,  the  position  of  its  inmates  was  one  of  peril. 
The  opening  year  of  1861  brought  no  hope  to  the  anx 
ious  heart  of  the  true  and  patriotic  Anderson.  No 
aid  in  men  nor  supplies.  The  dark  spirits  of  rebellion, 
all  had  seemed  to  shadow  that  ocean  fortress  and  its 
brave  defenders.  When  Mrs.  Anderson,  then  an  in 
valid  in  New  York,  learned  of  the  imbecility  of  gov 
ernment  and  the  critical  position  of  her  husband,  she 
resolved  to  reinforce  him  with  one  true  man  in  the 
person  of  Peter  Hart,  once  a  subordinate  officer  to 
Maj.  Anderson.  Hart  was  sought  and  found.  Said 
Mrs.  Anderson,  "  I  wish  you  to  do  me  a  favor."  "  Any 
thing  Mrs.  Anderson  wishes  me  to  do  I  will  do,"  re 
sponded  Hart,  "  We  must  go  to  Fort  Sumter."  "  I 
will  go,  Madam."  "  But  I  want  you  to  stay  with  the 
Major."  "  I  will  go,  and  stay,  Madam."  They  went. 
No  one  but  her  physician  knew  her  errand.  South 
ward  she  was  the  only  lady  on  the  train,  Hart  acting 
in  the  capacity  of  servant.  Troops  were  hurrying  to 
Charleston.  The  wife  was  forced  to  listen  to  conspira- 


150         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

tors  threatening  the  life  of  her  husband.  Charleston 
was  reached.  She  applied  for  a  pass  for  herself  and 
Hart  to  Sumter.  A  pass  for  Hart  was  denied.  "  Tell 
Governor  Pickens,"  said  the  heroic  woman,  "I  will 
take  Hart  to  the  fort  with  or  without  a  pass."  The 
pass  was  given.  The  brave  wife  and  mother,  with 
mail  bag  in  hand,  was  soon  on  her  way.  Sentinels 
were  answered.  Now  Sumter  appeared  in  sight.  "  The 
dear  Old  Flag,"  she  exclaimed,  and  burst  into  tears. 
The  sallyport  was  gained.  "  Who  comes  there  ?"  hailed 
the  sentinel.  "  Mrs.  Major  Robert  Anderson,"  was  the 
reply.  Her  husband  caught  her  in  his  arms  and  ex 
claimed  with  choked  expression  :  "  My  glorious  wife," 
and  carried  her  into  the  fort.  "  I  have  brought  you 
Peter  Hart,"  she  said.  "  The  children  are  well.  I 
must  return  in  two  hours."  In  two  hours  she  left  him, 
impressed  with  the  thought  that  she  had  buried  her 
husband  and  could  look  upon  his  face  no  more.  She 
took  the  cars  for  Washington  the  same  night,  refusing, 
though  once  a  daughter  of  the  South,  to  accept  hospi 
tality  at  the  hands  of  those  seeking  the  life  of  the 
father  of  her  children.  Thus  ended  the  mission  of 
this  devoted  woman.  She  had  done  what  the  govern 
ment  would  not,  or  dared  not  do.  She  did  not  send, 
but  took  a  valuable  reinforcement  to  Sumter.  Shall 
history  ever  cease  to  praise  and  venerate  that  pure 
and  single-hearted  woman?  Never !  no,  never! !  Her 

Jn 

example  served  to  strengthen  the  arm  of  the  govern 
ment.  The  desperadoes  of  chivalry  were  outgeneraled. 
Sumter  was  still  saved  to  the  Republic.  Thus,  from 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.         151 

January  9th,  1861,  to  April  llth,  did  Maj.  Anderson 
live  a  life  of  hope  and  expectancy.  Government  had 
left  him  to  the  tender  mercies  of  a  foe  clamoring  for 

O 

blood,  and  the  fort,  over  which  waved  defiantly  the 
symbol  of  a  nation,  the  existence  of  which  was  in 
peril.  Fate,  it  would  seem,  had  reserved  this  little 
band  in  Sumter  to  suffer,  that  loyal  millions  might  be 
warmed  into  resistance  to  treason  and  its  dark  designs. 
The  time  had  come  for  the  women  and  children  to 
leave  the  fort.  Parting  scenes  were  touching  and 
affecting.  Said  one  to  her  husband,  "  We  have  been 
married  seven  years,  and  I  know  I  shall  not  have 
cause  to  blush  for  you."  Another,  with  swollen  eyes, 
"  Don't  think  of  us,  Ben,  the  children  and  I  will  get 
along,  your  thoughts  now  are  here."  A  third,  holding 
the  hands  of  all  she  loved,  exclaimed  with  pale  and 
bloodless  lips,  "  May  God  bless  and  take  care  of  you, 
Thomas,  I  will  never  cease  to  pray  for  you.  Do  your 
duty,  darling.  God  forbid  that  my  love  should  inter 
fere  with  that."  Those  liberty-loving  women  infused 
into  the  hearts  of  that  band  of  eighty  doomed  patriots 
the  grandeur  of  loyalty,  the  object  of  government  to 
protect  the  weak,  giving  them  courage  to  resist  the  in 
sults  of  incarnate  monsters  and  suffer  the  storms  of 
shot,  shell,  and  red-hot  missiles,  to  which  they  were 
subjected  during  the  bombardment.  The  circle  of  bat 
teries  was  completed.  That  memorable  April  day  wit 
nessed  a  scene  of  metal  hail,  of  solid  shot,  shell,  bolts, 
steel-pointed  missiles  and  red-hot  messengers  of  fire, 
concentrated  upon  the  heads  of  the  representative  few, 


152        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

defending  the  honor  of  a  flag  insulted  and  trailed  in  the 
dust  by  the  traitorous  thousands  of  the  Palmetto  State. 
The  echoes  of  that  storm  of  iron  hail  wakened  the 
lumbermen  of  Maine,  reverberated  among  the  moun 
tains  of  Vermont,  stopped  with  a  click  the  spindles  ot 
New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts,  reached  the  ears 
of  the  miners  in  the  depths  of  the  deeply  sunken  coal 
shafts  of  Pennsylvania,  sending  thrills  of  burning  in 
dignation  through  the  hearts  of  the  millions  of  the 
Empire  State,  rousing  hosts  of  stalwart  freemen 
throughout  the  "great  Northwest,"  demanding  that 
the  outrage  on  the  flag  be  avenged,  and  the  inviola 
bility  of  the  nation  sustained. 

Sumter  was  lost.  The  flag  was  saluted,  hauled  down 
and  rolled  up,  to  wait  its  time  of  reappearance  from 
the  ramparts  of  that  dismantled  fortress.  The  old  flag 
had  now  no  resting  place  along  the  coast  from  Fortress 
Monroe  southward. 

November  7th,  1861,  witnessed  the  sublime  specta 
cle  of  a  wooden  fleet,  commanded  by  Admiral  Du  Pont, 
capturing  two  finely  positioned  forts  at  the  entrance 
of  the  broad  and  ample  bay  of  Port  Eoyal.  Beaufort, 
the  Newport  of  the  South,  was  quickly  deserted,  and  a 
panic  filled  the  hearts  of  the  people.  Port  Eoyal  har 
bor,  with  a  surface  upon  which  the  navies  of  the  world 
might  ride  at  anchor,  proved  to  be  the  base  for  all 
future  operations  before  Charleston.  Adjacent  islands 
were  occupied.  Gen.  Gillmore,  amid  the  marshes  of 
Tybee,  before  Savannah,  planted  batteries,  bombarded, 
breached  and  took  Fort  Pulaski,  and  straightway 
forts  Clinch  and  Marion,  together  with  all  defences 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers.        153 

and  towns  along  the  coast,  came  into  the  hands  of 
Du  Pont  and  his  loyal  comrades. 

From  Hilton  Head  expeditions  were  sent  up  Stono 
river  and  on  James  island  in  the  vicinity  of  Charles 
ton,  all  of  which  were  unsuccessful,  save  to  elicit  the 
strength  of  rebel  fortifications.  The  hour  was  hasten 
ing  when  Charleston,  with  its  blatant  chivalry,  would 
be  rained  upon  with  iron  hail,  forcing  its  citizens, 
with  sullen  reluctance,  from  sumptuous  homes  and  de 
lightful  promenades,  as  the  first  fruits  of  treason,  arro 
gance  and  folly. 

From  Fortress  Monroe  to  Florida,  there  was  felt 
among  military  commanders,  that  the  full  power  of 
the  government  along  that  line  was  about  to  be  cen 
tred  in  the  recovery  of  the  first  loss,  which  inspirited 
the  wavering  masses  of  the  loyal  ^Torth  to  end  treason, 
humiliate  traitors,  and  preserve  the  unity  of  the  Re 
public.  Transports  with  troops  were  quietly  gliding 
along  the  coast,  and  resting  silently  at  anchor  in  the 
harbor  of  Port  Royal.  A  feverish  activity  prevailed. 
Monitors  had  outridden  the  gales  of  the  Atlantic,  save 
one,  the  Merrimads  antagonist  and  destroyer;  her 
work  was  finished,  and  above  her,  around  Hatteras, 
the  sea  dirge  is  heard,  as  a  requiem  in  memory  of  that 
grand  check  in  Hampton  Roads  given  to  the  rebel 
monster,  which  saved  a  people  and  a  commerce,  and 
ensured  the  ultimate  safety  of  the  nation.  Monitors, 
with  the  Keokuk  and  New  Ironsides,  were  moored  be 
side  the  frowning  hulls  of  the  Wabash,  and  other  ves 
sels  of  our  wooden  navy,  specimens  of  wonder,  and  to 
veteran  seamen  objects  of  ridicule  and  merriment. 


154        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXIL 

PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  ATTACK  UPON  CHARLESTON  BY  BOTH 

ARMY  AND    NAVY.  THE    DEFENCES  OF    THE    CITY    OF 

CHARLESTON.  THE  OBSTRUCTIONS  IN    THE  CHANNEL. 

—  THE    POSITION    OF    TROOPS  AT    THE    NORTH    END  OF 

FOLLY  ISLAND.  APRIL    7TII,  THE  NAVY    MOVE    UP  TO 

ATTACK     SUMTER.  BOMBARDMENT     CONTINUES      ONE 

HOUR    AND    FORTY    MINUTES.  KEOKUK    LOST,    FLEET 

WITHDRAWN.  NUMBER    OF    GUNS    AND    THEIR    CHAR 
ACTER.  THE    SMALL    LOSS    OF    THE    IRONCLADS. 

Troops  were  landed,  drilled  and  organized  on  the 
islands  of  St.  Helena,  Port  Royal  and  Beaufort,  pre 
paratory  to  a  cooperation  with  the  iron  clads  in  the 
coming  attack  upon  Charleston.  Simultaneous  with 
the  moving  of  the  navy,  transports  were  landing  men, 
as  noted,  upon  Cole's  and  Folly  islands,  next  south  of 
Morris  island,  in  clear  view  of  Sumter,  Charleston 
and  surrounding  batteries. 

In  a  circular  issued  by  R.  S.  Ripley,  brigadier  gen 
eral,  commanding  defences  of  Charleston,  December 
26th,  1862,  forts  Sumter,  Moultrie,  Bee,  Beauregard, 
Cumming's  Point  and  Wagner,  mounted  seventy-six 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        155 

guns  of  various  calibre,  hurling  bolts,  steel-pointed 
shot,  red-hot  shot,  and  shell  with  molten  iron.  The 
various  channels  were  obstructed  with  torpedoes  and 
every  conceivable  impediment  to  entangle  and  discon 
cert  the  advance  of  the  Union  Navy,  composed  of  the 
New  Ironsides,  the  monitors  Passaic,  Weehawken, 
Montauk)  Patapsco,  Catskill,  Ncihant,  and  the  Keo- 
kufc,  not  an  Ericsson  monitor.  The  monitors  wTere 
armed  with  fifteen  and  eleven-inch  guns.  The  IKeo- 
Ttiik  carried  two  eleven-inch  guns,  and  was  less  heavily 
armed  than  the  monitors.  The  New  Ironsides  carried 
sixteen  eleven-inch  Dahlgreen  guns  and  one  heavy 
rifle.  There  were  three  circles  of  fire  within  practiced 
range  of  the  rebel  batteries.  Points  within  these  cir 
cles  would  invite  the  concentrated  fire  of  seventy-six 
guns,  though  our  own  officers  estimated  the  number 
at  one  hundred.  Bearing  upon  these  points  were 
seven-inch  and  eight-inch  Brooke  and  Blakely  rifles, 
and  ten-inch  Columbiads,  for  which  had  been  prepared 
square-headed  bolts  much  heavier  than  ordinary  shot, 
and  guns  for  hot  shot  and  shells  containing  molten 
iron.  These  the  ironclads  were  to  meet  in  these  sep 
arate  circles  in  succession,  while  advancing  along  the 
channel.  These  guns  had  been  so  tried  that  there 
could  be  no  random  shooting.  The  rebel  plan  of  de 
fence  lacked  nothing  which  skill,  experience  and  science 
could  suggest.  The  city  of  Charleston  was  defended 
at  all  assailable  points  by  batteries  of  a  formidable 
character.  There  was  a  battery  at  the  outward  ex 
tremity  of  Sullivan's  island  guarding  Maffit's  channel. 


156        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

One  near  the  Moultre  House  called  Fort  Beauregard. 
Fort  Moultrie,  a  little  farther  westward,  had  been 
greatly  strengthened  since  its  evacuation  by  Maj.  An 
derson.  Near  it,  on  the  western  end  of  Sullivan's 
island,  was  a  strong  earthwork  named  Battery  Bee. 
Another  commanded  the  mouth  of  Cooper  river.  In 
front  of  the  city,  and  one  mile  from  it,  was  Old  Castle 
Pinckney.  Sumter  stands  in  the  channel  midway  be 
tween  forts  Moultrie  and  Gregg,  the  most  formidable 
of  all.  On  the  south  side  of  the  city  a  battery  com 
manded  the  mouth  of  Ashley  river.  On  the  extreme 
point  of  James  island  was  Fort  Johnson,  and  between  it 
and  Castle  Pinckney  was  Fort  Ripley,  on  a  submerged 
sand  bank,  with  an  armament  of  heavy  guns.  On 
Cumming's  Point,  Morris  island,  was  Battery  Gregg, 
and  less  than  half  a  mile  southward,  was  Battery  Wag 
ner,  extending  from  sea  to  marsh,  with  a  bomb-proof 
for  fifteen  hundred  men.  At  the  south  end  of  the 
island  was  a  battery  commanding  Light  House  Inlet, 
a  narrow  channel  dividing  Folly  from  Morris  island. 
An  aggregate  of  several  hundred  guns  were  mounted 
on  all  of  these  works,  and  mostly  of  English  manufac 
ture.  Added  to  these  batteries  were  rows  of  piles  ob 
structing  the  main  channel,  with  an  opening  inviting 
vessels  to  enter,  at  which  point  was  a  mine  containing 
five  thousand  pounds  of  gunpowder.  Between  forts 
Sumter  and  Moultrie  was  a  heavy  rope  buoyed  with 
casks  holding  a  perfect  tangle  of  nets,  cables  and  lines 
attached  to  torpedoes.  These  torpedoes  were  to  be 
exploded  by  means  of  electricity  transmitted  through 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        157 

wires  from  batteries  at  forts  Sumter  and  Moultrie. 
Torpedoes  were  placed  at  all  vulnerable  points,  to  be 
exploded  in  various  ways.  The  harbor  was  a  sub 
marine  table  land,  dotted  with  engines  of  death,  with 
the  grim  monster  waiting  the  electrical  warning  to 
commence  his  fiendish  work  of  carnage  and  ruin.  Into 
this  net-work  of  certain  destruction  the  brave  Du  Pont 
ordered  that  little  group  of  ironclads,  accompanied  by 
the  New  Ironsides,  within  and  across  the  bar,  face  to 
face  with  heavily  armed  batteries  on  every  hand.  Out 
side  lay  the  wooden  fleet  waiting  to  cover  the  advance 
of  infantry  from  Folly  island  when  ordered  forward. 

Meanwhile  the  One  Hundredth  Eegiment  held 
the  advance  on  Folly  island.  Moved  to  the  head 
of  the  island  and  relieved  Cos.  "D,"  "K"  and  "  0," 
and  posted  Cos.  "A,"  « B,"  « F,"  «H"  and  "I." 
Company  "  H,"  commanded  by  Capt.  Charles  E.  Wai- 
bridge,  was  thrown  to  the  northwest  point  of  the  island 
in  close  proximity  to  Light  House  Inlet.  A  clear 
view  of  Secessionville  and  Sumter  were  had  in  the 
distance.  Subsequently  the  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  and 
Sixty-second  Ohio  came  to  the  center  of  the  island 
and  halted.  Folly  island  is  seven  miles  long,  and 
from  one-fourth  to  one  mile  in  width.  At  the  time  of 
our  landing  it  was  covered  with  a  dense  thicket  of  un 
derbrush,  together  with  timber  of  large  and  small 
growth  interspersed  with  the  palmetto.  The  march 
along  its  length,  even  at  noonday,  was  lonely.  An 
uninhabited  isle,  a  fit  abode  for  wreckers,  the  white 
sands,  the  monotonous  moan  of  the  surf  at  high  and 


158        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

low  tide,  and  the  lifeless  appearance  of  tree  and  shrub, 
all  contributed  to  fill  the  mind  of  the  soldier  with  de 
spondency  and  gloom.  One  solitary  habitation  was  all 
the  island  contained.  It  was  situated  on  the  west 
side,  on  the  bank  of  Folly  river,  overlooking  the  marsh 
beyond,  James  island,  and  the  towns  of  Legareville 
and  Secessionville.  This  was  the  situation  of  the  One 
Hundredth  Regiment  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  of 
April.  It  held  and  occupied  the  extreme  point  of 
Folly  island,  spectators  of  that  grand  though  fruitless 
effort  to  reduce  Fort  Sumter.  The  regiment  was  on 

O 

a  short  allowance  of  food  and  no  fresh  water.  The 
ironclads  in  the  channel  were  preparing  for  the 
grandest  display  of  pyrotechnics  ever  witnessed. 
Capt.  Payne,  the  scout,  could  be  seen  stealthily  crouch 
ing  behind  thicket  and  palm,  with  field  glass  in  hand, 
watching  the  movements  of  the  "  gray  backs  "  among 
the  sand  hills  on  Morris  island.  In  the  swamp  grass, 
under  a  blazing  sun,  as  anxious  pickets,  we  waited  the 
booming  of  the  first  gun  announcing  that  the  artillery 
carnival  had  opened.  Breathlessly  we  watched  the 
monitors  as  they  moved  within  range  of  the  batteries 
on  Morris  island,  and  not  a  gun  from  Wagner  or 
Gregg  disturbed  the  awful  stillness  of  the  scene.  It 
was  a  novel  and  singular  sight  to  see  those  circular 
towers  with  the  New  Ironsides,  stripped  of  rigging, 
towering  above,  a  Gulliver  among  Lilliputs,  all  slowly 
grouping,  as  if  for  mutual  protection,  while  steadily 
nearing  the  armed  parapets  of  Sumter.  Soon  the 
silence  of  earth  and  air  was  broken,  as  at  3.20  P.  M. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        159 

the  curled    smoke  from  the  barbette  guns  of  Sum- 
ter   told   to  us,  the   infantry,  that   the    magnificent 
spectacle    was    on,    and    the    opening    view    blazed 
simultaneously   from    adjacent    batteries.      The    air 
seemed   filled    with   exploding   shell.      Around    and 
near  the  monitors  columns  of  water  were  continually 
ascending,  which,  together  with  the  wreaths  of  smoke 
from  exploding  shell,  helped  to  make  the  most  sub 
lime  sight  ever  witnessed.      The  thunder  storms  of 
all  the  planets  combined,  could  such  a  conception  be 
realized,  could  not  equal  the  deafening  roar   which 
saluted  all  ears.     "Within  the  circling  jaws  of  five  bat 
teries,  bristling  with  the  heaviest  ordnance  America 
and  England  could  produce,  those  little  monitors  en 
dured,  for  one  hour  and  forty  minutes,  what  would 
have  destroyed   the  navies   of  the  world.     Air   and 
islands  shook  with  the  successive  discharges  of  artil 
lery,  while  the  hearts  of  the  soldiery  were  beating  with 
hopes  and  fears  as  to  the  ultimate  of  this  modern 
naval    experiment.      Our   government   was  waiting, 
foreign  nations  were  waiting,  and  the  good  and  patri 
otic  everywhere  were  praying  to  the  "  God  of  battles  " 
that  the  brave  old  admiral  and  his  equally  brave  and 
gallant  officers  and  men  might  come  forth  from  that 
.hell  of  hot  shot  and  steel-pointed  bolts,  victorious  and 
unharmed.     The  thunders  of  the  bombardment  ceased. 
The  smoke  of  battle  lifted,  and  for  one  hour  and  forty 
minutes  that  little  group  of  ironclads  lived  in  that  at 
mosphere   of  deadly   missiles,    a   thousandfold   more 
terrific  than  heaven's  artillery  ever  produced  in  her 


160        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

most  awful  aspect,  blended  with  the  thunders  and 
lightnings  above  and  the  earthquake's  roar  beneath. 
At  5  P.  M.  Du  Pont  signaled  the  fleet  to  withdraw. 
The  Keokiik  was  lost,  riddled  with  ninety  shots,  some 
of  which  were  eighteen  inches  in  diameter.  Sinking, 
she  was  withdrawn,  passing  the  batteries  on  Morris 
island,  Gregg  and  Wagner,  and  went  down  abreast  of 
the  works  on  the  south  end  of  the  island  at  8  P.  M.,  in 
full  view  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  on  the  north 
end  of  Folly  island.  Most  of  the  monitors  had  sus 
tained  slight,  and  others,  apparently,  severe  injuries. 
Only  one  man  died  of  injuries  received,  and  twenty- 
five  were  wounded,  principally  on  board  of  the  Keo- 
JcuJc  and  Nahant.  The  monitors'  guns  used  thirty-five 
pounds  of  powder  at  each  charge.  The  weight  of  each 
shot  was  four  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  which, 
when  fired,  rushes  through  its  parabola  with  the  weight 
of  ten  thousand  tons  home  to  its  mark,  while  the  ene 
my's  shot  were  striking  turrets  and  decks  as  fast  as 
the  ticking  of  a  watch.  The  rebel  batteries  fired  at 
the  rate  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  shots  per  minute  at 
a  distance  of  only  five  hundred  to  eight  hundred  yards. 
The  larger  number  glanced  from  the  monitors  as 
though  they  were  pistol  shots.  Gen.  Ripley  affirms 
that  only  seventy-six  guns  were  trained  upon  the 
squadron.  And  these-  not  the  lighter  ordnance,  such 
as  thirty-two  or  forty-two  pounders,  which  form  usually 
the  armaments  of  forts,  but  of  the  very  heaviest  cali 
bre, — the  finest  and  largest  guns  from  the  spoils  of  the 
Norfolk  navy  yard,  the  splendid  ten-inch  and  eleven- 


CHARLES  E.  WALSRIDGE. 

Lt.col  and  A.Q.M.  U.S.Vols, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers.        161 

inch  guns  cast  at  the  Tredegar  works,  Eichmond,  to 
gether  with  the  most  approved  English  rifled  guns 
made.  It  is  estimated  that  the  Confederates  fired 
three  thousand  five  hundred  shots.  During  this  and 
subsequent  operations  against  Sumter  and  adjacent 
batteries,  the  nine  ironclads  fired  eight  thousand  pro 
jectiles,  and  received  eight  hundred  and  eighty-two 
hits.  There  were  six  hundred  and  fifty-three  and  one- 
half  tons  of  iron  used.  The  Montauk  was  hit  two 
hundred  and  fourteen  times,  and  the  Weehawken  one 
hundred  and  eighty-seven,  and  almost  entirely  by  ten- 
inch  shot. 


162        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE    NIGHT    AFTER    THE    BOMBARDMENT. THE    ONE    HUN 
DREDTH  REGIMENT  RELIEVED. A  BATTERY  PLA.NTED. 

SIXTY    REBELS    SWEEP    AROUND    THE    HEAD    OF    THE 

ISLAND. BATTERY  WITHDRAWN. ONE   HUNDREDTH 

ORDERED     TO     COLE'S     ISLAND. LANDED     ON     COLE?S 

ISLAND. ORDERED    TO  FOLLY  ISLAND. WENT    INTO 

CAMP. A    VIEW    OF    THE     SITUATON. POSITION     OF 

TROOPS.  A   DESCRIPTION   OF   BEAUFORT,     THE   NEW 
PORT    OF   THE    SOUTH. 

The  day  closed,  the  night  was  clear  and  quiet,  save 
the  rocket  signals  between  the  city  of  Charleston, 
Surater  and  surrounding  batteries,  as  well  as  between 
the  various  vessels  of  our  own  ileet.  Orders  were 
given  to  the  pickets  to  fire  upon  all  persons  approach 
ing  the  line  from  the  outside.  To  the  pickets  the 
ground  beyond  the  line  was  strange  and  unknown. 
An  incident  happened  to  the  writer  which,  but  for  a 
circumstance,  and  these  pages,  if  written  at  all,  would 
have  been  written  by  another.  We  were  anxious  to 
get  a  clearer  view  of  the  space  beyond  our  position,  as 
sleep  was  out  of  the  question,  and  the  power  of  mili- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        163 

tary  had  not  taken  the  hold  of  after  years.  We  strayed, 
as  it  proved,  outside  of  the  picket  line,  and  in  our  ap 
proach  to  it  was  discovered  by  the  picket.  We  spoke, 
and  our  voice  saved  us,  as  the  person  addressed  was  a 
former  pupil,  and  there  were  two  overjoyed  hearts 
when  the  fact  was  seen  and  fully  understood.  A  few 
nights  subsequent  to  this  a  captain  of  the  Thirty -ninth 
Illinois  was  shot  by  one  of  his  own  men,  having  wan 
dered  outside  of  the  line  while  visiting  the  pickets. 

Morning  dawned  and  a  day  of  suspense  followed, 
while  gradually  the  conviction  was  entertained  by  the 
land  forces  that  the  expedition  as  planned  was  at  an 
end.  Folly  island  was  to  be  held  for  future  operations. 
As  yet  no  rebels  had  been  seen  on  the  island. 

Col.  Dandy  arrived  at  10  A.  M.,  Wednesday,  April 
8th,  and  relieved  Lieut.  Col.  Otis,  taking  command. 
The  regiment  was  ordered  one  and  a  half  miles  to  the 
rear.  Col.  Dandy  remained  to  the  front  with  a  few 
men  for  observation.  The  next  morning  Lieut.  Col. 
Otis  went  to  the  front  to  relieve  pickets,  and  Col. 
Dandy  came  to  the  rear.  The  rebels  had  planted  guns 
three  hundred  yards  from  our  pickets  in  plain  view  of 
the  north  point  of  Folly  island.  Our  men  were  kept 
from  view  and  not  permitted  to  fire.  Gen.  Yogdes 
arrived  at  the  Campbell  House  and  took  command. 
Eegiment  up  all  night  hauling  a  battery  of  guns  to  the 
front.  Encamped  and  commenced  to  arrange  it  for 
a  short  or  long  stay,  as  orders  might  determine. 
Nothing  had  arrived  from  old  camp  but  a  little  pork, 
hard  tack  and  coffee.  The  enemy  came  over  on  the 


164         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

morning  of  the  llth,  about  sixty  in  number,  and  fired 
into  our  pickets,  and  Corp.  Charles  Sabin,  of  Co.  "H," 
was  shot  in  the  heel,  and  subsequently  died,  and  one 
man  taken  prisoner.  The  rebels  swept  around  the 
battery  commanded  by  Col.  Dandy,  without  knowing 
its  position,  and  left  the  island.  The  regiment  was 
under  arms  till  4  A.  M.  The  pickets  were  very  indig 
nant  to  think  that  they  could  not  return  the  fire  of  the 
enemy. 

Lieut.  Col.  Otis  again  relieved  Col.  Dandy,  and 
during  the  night  of  the  llth  and  morning  of  the  12th 
the  cannon  were  hauled  to  the  rear,  to  a  more  favor 
able  position.  The  Sixty-second  Ohio  was  sent  for 
ward  to  relieve  the  One  Hundredth  ;  still,  Col.  Dandy 
took  Co.  "D"  to  the  front  and  spent  the  night.  The 
regiment  was  ordered  back  to  Cole's  island,  and  the 
men  shouldered  knapsacks  and  turned  to  retrace  their 
steps  after  the  excitement  of  a  few  adventurous  days. 
Waited  for  transports.  Got  on  board  at  1^  P.  M., 
and  disembarked  on  Cole's  island  at  4  P.  M.  Lieut. 
Col.  Otis,  as  field  officer,  posted  the  pickets.  All  quiet. 

Wednesday,  April  15th.  Ordered  to  move  camp. 
Struck  tents,  shipped  baggage  on  board  scow  at  10 
A.  M.  Shipped  regiment  at  3  P.  M.,  and  transhipped 
to  Folly  island  and  landed  at  7  P.  M.  The  right  wing 
was  sent  forward  with  Lieut.  Col.  Otis,  and  marched 
for  the  Campbell  House,  reaching  the  place  at  IIP.  M. 
The  left  wing  arrived  during  the  night.  The  regi 
ment  bivouacked  on  damp  ground,  and  the  heavy 
dew  of  the  night  was  equal  to  rain,  wetting  blankets 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        165 
and  clothing,  which  only  the  morning  sun  could  restore 

CD?  «/  O 

to  comfort  and  agreeable  feeling.  Adj.  Haddock,  who 
had  remained  at  Gloucester  Point  sick,  arrived  and 
entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  relieving 
Lieut.  Evert,  who  had  acquitted  himself  in  a  creditable 
manner.  The  regiment  pitched  camp  in  the  forenoon, 
and  the  camp  equipage  arrived.  Col.  Dandy  and  three 
companies  went  on  picket.  Alarms  were  frequent. 
Our  gunboats  shelled  the  enemy  on  James  island.  The 
labor  of  fatigue  commenced.  Roads  were  constructed 
to  the  picket  line.  Four  regiments  had  been  left  as  per 
manent  occupants  of  Folly  island,  known  as  HowelPs 
brigade,  of  which  the  One  Hundredth  New  York  was 
one.  The  infantry  forces  were  distributed  on  Folly 
island,  Cole's  island,  at  Seabrook,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  North  Edisto  river,  Hilton  Head,  St.  Helena  and 
Beaufort.  This  was  the  situation  at  the  opening  of 
that  memorable  summer  of  extensive  and  successful  op 
erations  against  Wagner,  Sumter,  and  before  Charles 
ton.  The  troops  were  generally  pleasantly  situated, 
especially  those  at  Beaufort.  Beaufort,  before  the 
war,  was  the  Newport  of  the  South.  Situated  on 
Port  Royal  island,  above  the  junction  of  Broad  and 
Beaufort  rivers,  and  several  miles  from  the  ample  har 
bor  of  Port  Royal,  it  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  healthiest 
localities  on  the  coast.  As  we  sailed  up  the  bay,  in 
front,  around  a  point  of  land,  was  the  famed  town 
of  Beaufort.  On  a  bluff,  above  the  highest  tide, 
or  bank  naturally  curved,  were  the  once  palatial  resi 
dences  of  the  Barnwells,  Rhetts,  and  other  chivalric 


166        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

sons  of  secession,  the  fathers  of  the  never-government 
to  be.  Words  are  feeble  to  describe  this  isle  of  the 
bay,  this  fairy  land  of  the  South,  with  a  gem  of  a  town 
upon  it.  The  stranger  is  surprised  and  bewildered  at 
the  number  of  line  structures  all  along  the  bay,  so 
large,  modern,  and  costly.  In  short  these  mansions 
and  their  surroundings  were  all  that  wealth,  taste  and 
art  could  suggest.  The  air  is  freighted  with  the  aroma 
of  flowers.  The  oleander,  magnolia,  fig  tree,  lemon 
and  orange,  as  well  as  the  live  oak,  all  so  naturally 
arranged.  To  have  staked  these  means  of  social  bliss 
and  lose,  is  the  best  commentary  upon  the  madness 
and  folly  of  rebellion.  Either  these  island  princes  had 
decided  to  sacrifice  all  to  their  idea  of  a  separate  gov 
ernment,  or  they  fancied  that  they  could  not  be  dis 
turbed  in  their  ease  and  luxury.  The  latter  proved 
to  be  a  demonstrated  error,  since  they  left,  as  it  was 
announced  from  the  house  tops  that  the  forts  at  the 
mouth  of  the  harbor  were  taken.  "  They  left  in  a 
great  hurry."  One  well  informed,  says :  "  The  needle 
work  was  found  lying  on  the  table  where  it  was 
thrown  when  the  alarm  first  sounded,  dresses,  and 
other  articles  of  wardrobe  in  closet  and  drawer,  silver 
plate  and  elegant  china  in  the  side  board,  and  books 
on  the  shelves."  The  stampede  was  greater  than  the 
rout  of  an  army.  The  negroes  commenced  the  pil 
lage  before  the  arrival  of  our  troops.  The  victo 
rious  heroes  were  received  by  the  colored  ladies  in 
silks  and  satins  that  had  adorned  the  beautiful  forms 
of  Carolina's  fairest  daughters.  Why  this  decision  to 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        167 

sacrifice  all  these  means  of  sensuous  ease  and  their 
corresponding  mental  ecstasy  ?  If  for  no  other  reason, 
they  must  have  felt  that  through  the  senses  they  had 
attained  the  climax  of  earthly  felicity,  and  sought  a 
change  as  a  contrast  to  the  state  of  indolence  and 
satiety  in  which  they  had  reveled  all  their  lives.  In 
such  a  spot  and  such  a  clime,  with  such  surroundings, 
one  would  think  that  they  might  have  extemporized 
an  earthly  heaven.  One  fact  is  worthy  of  mention  to 
show  the  exclusi  veness  of  these  modern  nabobs.  There 
were  no  hotels  in  Beaufort.  The  proprietors  of  these 
palaces  lived  here  during  the  year.  In  summer  the 
human  tide  from  afar  set  in.  Each  establishment  had 
its  select,  welcome  and  picked  few,  upon  the  principle 
that  like  seeks  like.  Hence  there  were  no  resting 
places  for  miscellaneous  visitors,  but  each  private  res 
idence  was  a  hotel  for  those  enrapport  with  the  head 
of  it.  The  beauty  of  the  town  is  its  naturalness,  or 
absence  of  artificial  arrangement.  The  trees  are  ir 
regularly  situated  all  over  it,  yet  forming  one  un 
broken  shade.  These  southern  residences  are  so  thickly 
surrounded  with  trees  that  they  are  seen,  as  the  bird 
on  its  nest,  through  the  branches.  Such  was  Beau 
fort  as  we  saw  it  during  military  occupation,  with  its 
private  residences  used  as  hospitals  for  our  suffering 
and  mutilated  soldiery  from  the  charges  of  Wagner, 
and  the  sieges  of  Wagner  and  Gregg,  and  before 
Charleston. 


168        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.    Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

REGIMENT  PITCHED  CAMP  OX  FOLLY  ISLAND. PAYMASTER 

ARRIVED. PAID     TROOPS    FOR    SIX    MONTHS. CHAP 
LAIN     LINN    WENT    NORTH. CAMP     MOVED. ROADS 

WERE  CONSTRUCTED.  CO.   "  II  "  DETACHED    TO    PAW 
NEE  LANDING. PROMOTIONS  MADE. PICKET,  FATIGUE, 

DRILLS     AND      INSPECTIONS      CONTINUED.  WEATHER 

VERY     WARM. CO.    "  C  "    DETACHED     TO    SOUTH    END 

OF     THE     ISLAND. GEN.     GILLMORE     SUCCEEDS     GEN. 

HUNTER. ACTIVE    OPERATIONS    EXPECTED. 

As  intimated,  the  regiment  began  at  once  to  pitch 
tents  and  arrange  all  the  details  of  camp.  Lieut.  Col. 
Otis  had  charge  of  the  details  for  making  roads,  as, 
since  the  arrival  of  troops,  freedom  of  passage  over  the 
island  must  be  had,  screened  from  the  observation  of 
the  enemy.  The  days  were  very  warm,  and  the  nights 
cool  and  damp,  with  dews  equal  to  light  showers  of 
rain.  Kegiment  moved  camp  again  to  smoother  and 
higher  ground. 

Sunday,  April  19th.  The  paymaster  arrived  and 
paid  off  the  regiment  for  six  months.  Chaplain  Linn 
obtained  a  leave  of  absence  of  thirty  days  to  go  North, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        169 

anftook  the  money  of  all  soldiers  who  desired  to  send 
to  their  families  and  friends.  There  was  an  intense 
business  aspect  all  over  camp.  In  every  tent  could 
be  seen  some  one  with  paper,  pen  or  pencil,  record 
ing  a  few  lines  to  loved  ones  at  home.  I  wished, 
often,  that  the  people  could  look  in  upon  the  doings 
of  these  regimental  families,  and  observe  what  an 
interest  they  had  in  the  loved  and  remembered  far 
away.  McCarty,  the  regimental  sutler,  arrived  at 
this,  to  him,  most  fortunate  time,  to  glean  all  the  spare 
dollars  of  officers  and  men.  He  did  a  thriving  busi 
ness  with  what  few  goods  he  had.  Lieut.  Col.  Otis 
held  court  martial  and  tried  a  number  of  cases.  Gen. 
Yogdes  returned  proceedings  three  times  before  he 
was  pleased,  in  accordance  with  his  views,  and  so  en 
tirely  opposite  to  those  of  Gen.  Naglee.  Co.  "H," 
Capt.  Walbridge,  was  detached  from  the  regiment  and 
located  permanently  a  short  way  up  the  island,  at 
Pawnee  Landing.  A  camp  was  laid  out,  wells  dug, 
and  the  usual  routine  of  camp  life  observed.  The 
company  was  convenient  for  picket,  as  well  as  a  sup 
port  for  one  gun  planted  at  that  point  to  defend  the 
landing.  The  distance  was  about  two  miles  from  the 
regiment.  The  weather  became  very  warm,  and  hence 
the  underbrush  was  dry  and  subject  to  being  burned. 
It  was  not  uncommon  to  fight  fire  for  successive  days, 
to  save  camp  and  necessaries.  The  surface  of  the 
island  was  completely  burned  over,  to  the  terror  of 
vermin  of  all  descriptions.  The  heat  was  oppressive, 
and  had  it  not  been  for  the  daily  breezes  from  the 


170        One  Hundredth  'N.  T.  £  Volunteers. 

ocean  it  would  have  been  insupportable.  The  rtfbel 
drums  could  be  heard  across  Folly  river  on  James 
island.  Life  in  company  camp,  detached  from  the 
regiment,  was  monotonous.  An  occasional  thunder 
storm  would  purify  the  air.  Flies  were  swarming,  and 
disputed  every  mouthful  of  food  taken  by  the  soldier. 

April  30th.  Regiment  mustered  for  pay.  Lieut. 
William  Brown  assumed  the  duties  of  quartermaster, 
with  George  G.  Barnum,  of  Co.  "II,"  as  clerk,  who 
proved  to  be  an  efficient  aid,  and  who  was  subsequently 
quartermaster-sergeant,  and  lieutenant  and  quarter 
master  of  the  regiment.  Company  drills  from  6  to  7 
A.  M. ;  dress  parade  at  8J  A.  M.,  and  guard  mount 
ing  at  9  A.  M. 

May  1st.  Received  a  large  mail,  which  was  always 
a  festive  occasion  in  the  regiment.  The  men  were 
reading  the  daily  papers  from  home,  carefully  study 
ing  the  contents  of  letters  received,  which  were  placed 
safely  in  the  pocket  to  be  reproduced  on  picket,  or 
fatigue,  when  times  of  rest  occurred.  This  bond  of 
connection  could  not  be  lightly  estimated.  It  was  a 
source  of  power  to  the  army,  and  the  expense  of  mail 
transportation  was  the  most  profitable  investment,  as 
a  rule,  of  all  the  expenses  of  the  government.  Changes 
were  occurring  among  the  officers.  Promotions  and 
discharges  wrere  the  results  necessarily  of  various 
causes.  Leopold  Evert  was  promoted  to  captain  of 
Co.  "  C."  ;  Charles  E.  "Walbridge,  captain  of  Co.  "  II," 
and  Charles  F.  Gardner,  captain  of  Co.  "  G."  George 
II.  Stowits,  Cornelius  B.  Adriance,  Michael  Friday, 


One  Hundredth  JV.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        171 

and  Leonard  D.  Howell,  were  promoted  to  be  second 
lieutenants,  and  also  Carlos  H.  Kichmond.  Hence  in 
the  wake  of  these  changes  there  was  a  steady  system 
of  culture  established,  by  which  the  non-commissioned 
officer  was  preparing,  in  his  turn,  to  become  a  com 
missioned  officer.  We  may  not  note  all  these  changes, 
but  the  official  record  at  the  close  of  the  volume,  as 
we  have  mentioned,  will  show  all  such  that  took  place 
in  the  regiment. 

Military  matters  had  assumed  a  steady  and  even 
aspect  over  the  whole  island.  Drills  and  inspections 
were  regularly  held.  Dress  parade  occurred  at  &J-  A. 
M.  •  The  regiment  stood  backs  to  the  sun,  and  with 
such  order  and  quietude  that  a  motion  of  hand  or 
movement  of  lips  was  not  to  be  observed.  The  sun 
at  that  hour  in  the  morning  would  shine  so  warmly 
that  it  seemed  hot  iron  was  applied  at  the  back  of  our 
necks.  However,  it  was  a  fine  sight :  that  large  regi 
ment  cleanly  dressed,  polished  accoutrements,  burn 
ished  arms  and  white  gloves,  standing  as  a  picture  on 
that  desert  isle,  as  a  defence  for  the  unity  of  the  na 
tion.  Most  of  camp  labor  and  drill  was  performed  in 
the  morning,  as  the  heat  was  so  great  at  meridian  that 
it  was  not  safe  nor  politic  to  exercise  the  men. 

May  13th.  The  men  were  ordered  to  clear  brush 
and  prepare  place  for  new  camp,  one  of  the  sanitary 
means  for  preserving  the  health  of  troops,  that  of  re 
moving  them  from  accumulated  refuse  and  decaying 
garbage. 

May  19th.      Another  mail   arrived.      Camp    was 


172        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

moved.  Co.  "  C,"  Capt.  Evert,  was  detached  to  work 
on  fort  at  the  south  end  of  the  island.  Lieut.  James 
II.  Dandy  was  detailed  on  special  duty  in  the  com 
missary  department  at  Hilton  Head.  The  men  were 
furnished  with  white  gloves  for  inspection  and  dress 
parade.  A  small  per  cent,  of  men  were  allowed  to  go 
home  on  furlough.  Officers  were  coming  and  going 
to  Hilton  Head  and  Beaufort  for  the  purposes  of  mus 
ter  out  as  non-commissioned  officers,  and  muster  in  as 
commissioned  officers.  Steamers  were  running  regu 
larly  from  the  south  end  of  Folly  island  to  Seabrook 
on  the  North  Edisto,  and  from  thence  to  Hilton  Head 
and  Beaufort.  At  Hilton  Head  an  extensive  dock  had 
been  constructed,  extending  beyond  low  tide,  at  which 
steamers  were  constantly  loading  and  unloading  for 
various  points  on  the  coast,  together  with  others  taking 
furloughed  men  North,  and  returning  with  supplies, 
forage,  ammunition  and  all  articles  needed  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  large  army.  The  month  of  May 
wore  away  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Yogdes,  but 
on  the  air  came  signs  of  active  operations.  Gen. 
Hunter,  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  bombarding  fleet, 
prayed  for  the  success  of  Du  Pont,  and  at  the  same 
time  denied  to  the  brave  Gen.  Strong  the  liberty  of 
making  a  night  attack  upon  Morris  island,  to  divert 
the  guns  of  Wagner,  Gregg  and  Sumter.  Hunter 
withdrew  his  army  of  cooperation,  and  sailed  away 
to  more  comfortable  quarters  at  Hilton  Head,  where 
he  had  fought  a  paper  warfare  with  Gens.  Naglee  and 
Foster,  and  indulged  in  showy  reviews  before  his  abor- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        173 

tive  advance  upon  Charleston.  An  officer  of  indolence 
was  to  be  supplanted  by  one  of  energy.  Hunter 
gave  place  to  Gillmore  on  the  10th  of  June.  Gen. 
Gillmore,  at  the  time,  was  in  command  of  a  division 
in  Kentucky,  and  had  won  a  battle  at  Somerset,  and 
more,  had  gained  distinction  as  a  successful  engineer 
in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Pulaski  in  the  spring  of  1862. 
With  these  foreshadowings  of  his  ability  he  was  called 
to  Washington,  and  at  once  proposed  to  take  and  hold 
Morris  island,  reduce  Fort  Wagner  and  Battery  Gregg, 
and  render  Sumter  powerless  as  a  work  for  offensive 
operations. 

Gen.  Gillmore  reached  Hilton  Head  the  12th  of 
June.  The  command  was  hardly  turned  over  to  him 
before  he  started  on  a  tour  of  inspection  of  the  forces 
and  their  situation  in  his  department.  Gen.  Yogdes 
was  in  command  on  Folly  and  Cole's  islands.  It 
was  evident  that  instant  and  vigorous  operations  were 
intended.  The  quiet  that  had  prevailed  throughout 
the  camps  of  Howell's  brigade  was  disturbed.  Order 
lies  were  riding  with  orders  to  brigade  and  regimen 
tal  headquarters,  and  an  air  of  stir  and  excitement 
reigned. 


174:        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

BATTERIES    TO    BE    CONSTRUCTED    ON"   THE    NORTH    END    OF 

FOLLY    ISLAND.  THE     CONDITION     OF     THE     ISLAND 

WHEN   FIRST   VISITED. — THE    GOOD    HEALTH    OF    THE 

ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT. A  VISIT  TO   BEAUFORT. 

THE    RAID      OF     COL.     MONTGOMERY     WITH     NEGRO 

TROOPS. THE  GREAT  CHANGES  IN  PUBLIC  SENTIMENT 

SINCE  THE  OPENING  OF  THE  WAR. WEATHER  WARM. 

—  THE      RESIGNATION      OF     LIEUT.      COL.      OTIS. HIS 

HONORABLE    DISCHARGE. COMPANIES    DETAILED    AL 
TERNATELY  AT   THE    HEAD  OF   THE  ISLAND. REBELS 

SHELL  THE  ISLAND. 

Batteries  at  the  north  end  of  Folly  island  were 
to  be  constructed  commanding  the  south  end  of  Morris 
island.  When  Folly  island  was  first  occupied,  its  ex 
tremities  could  be  reached  only  on  the  seaside,  along 
the  beach  and  up  Folly  river.  The  island  was  a  jun 
gle  so  closely  thicketed  that  its  passage  was  one  of 
great  difficulty.  Previous  to  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Gill- 
more,  roads  had  been  constructed  its  whole  length,  as 
well  as  intersecting  lateral  ones  for  army  uses,  invisi 
ble  to  the  enemy's  observations.  Gen.  Yogdes  had 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        175 

with  great  pride  constructed  works  on  the  south  end 
of  the  island,  and  inquired  of  Gen.  Gillmore  his  opin 
ion  of  their  merits.  To  which  the  General  and  Engi 
neer  replied,  that  they  were  very  nice  if  the  island 
was  poised  on  a  pivot,  but  they  were  on  the  wrong 
end,  seven  miles  from  the  place  of  need. 

The  military  force  on  the  island  was  increased  by 
detachments  of  the  First  New  York  Volunteer  Engi 
neers,  First  United  States,  Third  Rhode  Island  and 
Third  New  York  Artillery.  Gen.  Gillmore  com 
menced  work  on  the  batteries  the  15th  of  June.  A 
thousand  men  as  guards  and  laborers  were  sent  to  the 
head  of  the  island  to  break  soil  for  immediate  opera 
tions.  The  work  was  continued  night  and  day.  Un 
der  cover  of  thick  brush  and  timber  the  works  were 
pushed  rapidly  to  completion.  Col.  Dandy  was  in 
command  of  the  working  parties  during  the  erection 
of  the  batteries.  The  rebels  had  constructed  a  high 
tower  at  Secessionville,  on  the  left,  across  the  marsh, 
from  which  they  could  overlook  the  low  flat  country 
for  miles  around.  The  needed  material  for  the  works 
was  transported  at  night,  so  that  men  and  teams  were 
unobserved.  The  rebels  suspected  that  all  was  not 
right  on  the  island,  and  opened  fire  from  their  batteries 
on  the  south  end  of  Morris  island,  which  made  the 
completion  of  the  works  one  of  peril,  as  several  men 
were  killed  and  wounded.  As  no  reply  was  made, 
our  silence  gave  the  impression  that  we  had  been 
driven  from  the  island. 

From  this  hour  the  sufferings  of  the  men  commenced. 


176        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

The  heat  and  night  work,  with  exposure  to  the  damps 
and  irregular  rest,  caused  malarial  typhoid  fever  and 
chronic  diarrhoea.  Up  to  this  time  the  health  of  the 
regiment  was  good,  and  as  a  rule  it  was  better  than 
that  of  any  other  regiment  in  the  brigade,  or  in  other 
brigades  working  with  it.  In  this  there  was  a  won 
derful  difference.  The  composition  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  Regiment  from  lake,  canal,  city  and  surround 
ing  country,  seemed  from  its  elements  to  be  better 
able  to  endure  the  severities  of  clime  and  fatigue  than 
those  from  the  careful  and  steady  habits  of  country 
farm  and  workshop.  Whole  regiments  seemed  to 
manifest  the  symptoms  of  disease  through  sympathetic 
affection,  and  were  ordered  away  to  quiet  quarters  at 
Fernandina,  and  other  localities  along  the  coast,  to  re 
cruit  and  mend  for  the  performance  of  duties  assigned 
them.  The  Chaplain  returned  to  the  regiment.  Capt. 
Mayo,  of  Co.  "  A,"  was  discharged,  and  left  for  home. 
The  writer  had  five  days'  leave  of  absence  to  muster 
as  second  lieutenant,  and  had  an  opportunity  of  in 
specting  more  closely  the  several  positions  along  the 
coast.  The  landing  at  Hilton  Head  had  become  quite 
a  busy  town,  so  large  are  the  needs  of  an  army  in  the 
w^ay  of  provisions  for  the  consummation  of  its  oper 
ations.  At  this  hour,  and  under  the  vigilant  eye  of 
Gen.  Gillmore,  the  army  had  everything  a  willing 
government  could  supply.  A  floating  workshop  for 
the  navy,  transports  loaded  with  provisions  for  man 
and  beast,  and  all  munitions  ready  for  instant  and 
active  operations.  The  trip  from  Hilton  Head  up 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        177 

the  bay,  Broad  and  Beaufort  rivers,  is  very  fine,  as  we 
experienced  it  at  the  close  of  a  warm  day  in  the  mid 
dle  of  June. 

At  Beaufort  was  the  brigade  commanded  by  Col. 
Davis,  from  which  the  One  Hundredth  had  been  de 
tached.  Previous  to  my  visit  to  Beaufort,  Col.  Mont 
gomery,  with  his  negro  regiment,  made  a  raid  to  the 
main  land  to  get  recruits.  The  recruiting  was  a  suc 
cess.  He  brought  back  some  eight  hundred  negroes 
of  all  ages  and  conditions,  and  of  both  sexes,  about  one 
hundred  of  whom  were  put  into  his  regiment.  At  the 
time  of  my  visit  I  found  this  collection  from  the  coun 
try  housed  in  one  of  the  churches  of  Beaufort,  to  be 
fed  on  government  rations  until  distributed  for  use,  or 
dependency.  Truly  it  was  a  novel  sight,  and  the  al 
most  unintelligible  jargon  was  indescribable. 

Schools  were  established  on  all  the  islands  within 
our  lines,  and  teachers  from  the  North,  mostly  ladies, 
were  engaged  in  the  work.  We  visited  most  of  the 
schools,  and  found  that  there  seemed  to  be  a  desire  on 
the  part  of  all  to  learn,  as  would  be  expected  from  a 
class  of  persons  so  recently  slaves,  and  now  in  the  novel 
condition  of  independence.  In  looking  over  the  mat 
ter,  educationally,  at  that  time,  we  thought  we  saw 
what  has  really  been  accomplished.  That  the  ques 
tion  of  culture,  the  education  of  the  slave,  would  be 
come  a  national  work  and  a  question  of  wide-spread 
interest.  So  in  our  narrow  quarters,  with  tallow  can 
dle,  we  digested  an  article,  and  sent  it  to  the  editor  of 
the  New  York  Teacher,  and  learned  through  its  col- 


178        One  Ilimdredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

nmns  in  a  short  editorial,  that  what  we  had  amplified 
as  a  matter  of  great  moment  could  only  be  a  minor 
question  of  politics.  So  our  Morris  island  thoughts 
on  education,  with  years  of  experience  as  a  teacher, 
found  the  darkness  of  the  waste  basket.  But  the 
morning  light  of  a  few  years  has  seen  and  is  now  shin 
ing  upon  thousands  of  school  houses  for  ten  thousands 
of  colored  children,  as  well  as  upon  normal  structures 
for  the  culture  of  colored  teachers ;  and  more,  a  col 
ored  senator  now  sits  in  the  place  of  the  once  presi 
dent  of  the  so-called  Confederacy  and  former  occu 
pant  of  the  same  seat,  from  the  State  of  Mississippi. 

Truly,  great  changes  have  taken  place  within  the 
past  ten  years  in  the  growth  and  tendencies  of  this 
people.  We  listen  to  exchanged  messages  around  the 
globe,  o'er  land  and  through  the  ocean's  depths,  while 
thundering  o'er  plain,  through  valley  and  tunnelled 
slopes,  from  far  Pacific's  shore,  comes  the  iron  steed 
bringing  from  the  orient  representatives  of  five  hun 
dred  millions  of  people,  whose  illuminated  faces  beam 
with  the  light  and  splendor  of  the  Occident,  welcomed 
with  the  greetings  of  thirty-five  millions  of  educated, 
enterprising,  free,  American  citizens :  John  China- 
man  and  his  Japanese  brother  reclining  upon  the 
broad  shoulders  of  brother  Jonathan. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania  was 
encamped  within  the  town.  Its  commander,  Col. 
Davis,  on  two  occasions  was  in  command  of  the  post. 
His  description  of  the  camp  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fourth  is  very  minute,  and  shows  what  a  soldier  can 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        179 

accomplish  in  the  way  of  adornment  when  within 
reach  of  means  to  accomplish  the  busy  working  of 
brain,  in  taste,  skill  and  handiwork.  The  same  and 
similar  results  were  seen  throughout  our  army  every 
where,  evidencing  the  fact,  that  culture  is  everything, 
and  that  it  will  control  our  actions  under  all  circum 
stances.  Our  stay  at  Beaufort,  though  short,  was 
pleasant,  and  save  the  annoyance  of  the  mosquitoes, 
was  all  that  could  be  desired.  But  like  military 
orders  it  had  an  end.  Town,  bay,  and  coast  beauties 
all  were  left,  and  soon  the  shores  of  Folly  island 
greeted  our  eyes,  from  which  we  receded  only  a  few 
days  before. 

The  weather  at  this  date,  Monday,  June  15th,  was 
very  warm.  The  rebels  had  been  throwing  shells  into 
the  camps  at  the  north  end  of  the  island,  annoying 
the  working  parties.  Capt.  Payne  and  twenty  men 
went  to  a  steamer  aground  off  the  island.  The  rebels 
attempted  to  reach  it,  and  our  men  drove  them  back. 
Then  the  rebels  commenced  shelling  the  wreck,  and 
the  Captain  was  obliged  to  retire  with  what  booty  the 
men  could  transport.  The  regiment  was  called  out  to 
await  orders.  In  another  attempt  both  the  enemy 
and  our  men  endeavored  to  get  a  barge  to  the  wreck 
for  plunder,  which  caused  a  brisk  cannonade. 

During  the  night  of  June  15th,  the  rebels  threw 
shells  all  night  and  most  of  the  following  day.  The 
time  had  come  when  there  must  be  an  end  of  military 
association  between  the  Colonel  commanding  and  Lieut. 
Col.  Otis.  The  result,  that  of  the  resignation  of  Col. 


180        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

Otis,  is  what  could  be  expected  as  the  end  of  what  we 
stated,  that  from  the  nature  of  things  the  appointment 
of  Col.  Dandy  could  not  work  harmony  among  those 
who  organized  the  regiment,  and  who  gave  their 
money,  time  and  influence,  which  ultimated  in  success. 
It  could  not  be  otherwise,  than  that  a  once  civilian 
should  become  restive  under  the  imperiousness  of  mili 
tary  ways  and  modes  of  treatment,  too  common  be 
tween  the  volunteer  and  members  of  the  regular 
army.  Lieut.  Col.  Otis  resigned,  and  was  honorably 
discharged,  and  left  the  regiment  and  the  service  with 
the  good  wishes  of  all  who  knew  him,  as  a  feeling, 
sympathetic  and  fatherly  friend.  In  the  interim  Col. 
Dandy  had  been  detailed  on  duty  at  the  head  of  the 
island.  An  order  was  issued  forming  the  Eighty-fifth 
Pennsylvania,  Sixth  Connecticut,  Thirty-ninth  Illinois 
and  One  Hundredth  Regiments  into  a  brigade,  to  be 
commanded  by  Col.  Howell.  The  One  Hundredth 
Regiment  was  inspected  by  Lieut.  Col.  Jackson.  In 
the  absence  of  Lieut.  Col.  Otis,  Maj.  Nash's  duties 
were  doubled,  and  he  was  at  once  ordered  at  the  head 
of  the  island  with  Col.  Dandy.  Earthworks  and 
batteries  were  being  constructed  on  the  north  end  of 
Folly,  opposite  Morris  island.  Co.  "  K  "  was  sent  on 
duty  for  five  days.  Co.  "  B  "  was  also  sent, 

Sunday,  June  21st,  Capt.  Pa}-ne  brought  in  four 
rebel  deserters.  Paymaster  paid  the  regiment  for  two 
months.  The  rebels  continued  to  throw  shells  on  the 
north  end  of  the  island,  and  wounded  two  men. 

June  24th.     Co.  "  C  "  was  still  in  camp  at  south 


RODNEY  B.  SMITH. 

I?*  Lieut  lOOttRe.N.YS 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        181 

end  of  Folly  island.  The  weather  was  very  warm. 
The  writer  at  this  time  was  prostrate  with  typhoid 
fever,  and  sickness  was  increasing  to  an  alarming  ex 
tent  among  the  troops  on  the  island. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

During  the  prosecution  of  the  works,  that  daring, 
resolute,  reticent,  and  generally  successful  scout, 
Capt.  L.  S.  Payne,  of  our  regiment,  was  rendering 
important  service  by  exploring  the  creeks,  channels 
and  shores  of  James  and  smaller  islands,  often  inside 
of  the  enemy's  lines,  evading  their  pickets  and  sucess- 
fully  passing,  avoiding  and  escaping  from  them,  ascer 
taining  the  position,  strength  and  apparent  intentions 
of  the  rebels,  and  even  venturing  into  the  vicinity  of 
Sumter,  beyond  the  batteries  of  Morris  island.  There 
was  not  an  officer  to  be  found  on  the  island  upon 
whom  the  generals  could  rely  with  such  accuracy  as 
on  the  representations  of  Capt.  Payne.  Not  given  to 
imagery  or  over  statement,  his  conclusions  were  the 
results  of  very  careful  observations  made  up  to,  and 
within  the  reach  of,  the  various  points  inspected. 
Hence,  with  his  characteristic  coolness  and  clearness 
of  apprehension,  his  superior  officers  learned  that  his 
statements  were  facts  upon  which  to  base  movements 
and  action. 

Auxilliary  to  the  contemplated  attack  on  Morris 
island,  the  reduction  of  Sumter  and  contiguous  bat 
teries,  an  expedition  was  sent  from  Beaufort,  com 
manded  by  Col.  Higginson,  of  the  First  South  Carolina 
Volunteers,  to  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  between 
Charleston  and  Savannah.  The  rebels  had  been  in 
formed  and  were  in  strong  force  awaiting  the  attack. 
It  was  a  failure,  with  the  loss  of  two  guns  and  several 
men  killed  and  wounded.  Another  in  command  of 
Gen.  Terry,  of  Fort  Fisher  fame,  against  James  island 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        185 

to  act  as  a  feint,  while  the  real  attack,  as  intended,  was 
from  the  north  end  of  Folly  island.  The  design  was 
to  command  the  causeways  and  bridges,  hold  James 
island,  threaten  the  defences  of  Secessionville,  and 
divide  the  forces  between  Morris  island  and  the  front 
"  of  Gen.  Terry's  column.  So  far  the  feint  was  a  suc 
cess.  Gen.  Gillmore  was  concentrating  all  the  dis 
posable  force  in  the  department  on  Folly  island  as 
rapidly  as  possible.  The  troops  were  encamped  or 
bivouacked  under  shelter  and  cover  of  the  timber  and 
bushes,  which  completely  hid  them  from  view.  The 
works  at  the  north  end  of  the  island  were  of  a  very 
formidable  character,  and  gave  evidence  of  great  labor. 
The  gunners  were  ready  at  any  moment  to  open  on 
the  enemy  across  the  narrow  inlet  that  separated  the 
two  forces. 

The  morning  of  the  10th  of  July  was  fixed  for  the 
opening  of  the  batteries.  Hard  by,  in  Folly  river,  in 
boats  concealed  in  the  tall  grass  of  the  marsh,  was 
Gen.  Strong  with  two  thousand  men  waiting  the  time 
of  movement.  The  hour  had  arrived.  The  gunners 
were  in  position,  lanyards  in  hand,  waiting  the  magic 
word  of  command.  The  commanding  general  eagerly 
waits  the  dawn.  Day  breaks.  "  Do  you  see  that  gun 
on  yon  sand  hill  ? "  asked  Gen.  Seymour  of  Capt. 
Strahn,  of  the  Third  Khocle  Island  Artillery.  "I 
do,"  was  the  response.  "Are  you  ready?"  "Aye, 
aye,  sir."  "  Blaze  away."  The  rebels  were  appalled 
at  the  roar  of  artillery  so  near,  and  with  such  terrific 
power.  Island,  inlet,  river,  ocean,  and  woodland 


186        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

echoed  the  startling  intelligence  that  the  siege  of 
Charleston  had  commenced.  The  silence  of  that 
southern  morn  was  broken,  and  for  two  hours  the 
detonating  thunders  of  artillery  were  continuous,  cre 
ating  a  panic  of  fear  in  the  hearts  of  the  rebels  on 
that  sandy  isle.  At  half  past  six  o'clock,  in  the  face 
of  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry,  the  boats 
were  ordered  across  the  inlet,  piloted  by  Capt.  Payne, 
who  had  made  himself  familar  with  every  spot  in  that 
maze  of  water  and  marsh.  At  the  landing  of  the 
troops,  Gen.  Strong,  in  his  haste  and  excitement,  cried 
out  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  See  the  rebels  run,"  and 
at  once  stepped  overboard  in  seven  feet  of  water. 
After  a  sharp  and  short  struggle,  full  possession  was 
obtained  of  the  rebel  works  at  the  south  end  of  Morris 
island,  with  eleven  guns,  camp  equipage,  and  two 
hundred  prisoners.  Dalilgren's  monitors,  the  Wee- 
Jiawken,  Catskill,  Montauk  and  Naha/nt,  opened  a  cross 
fire  upon  the  retreating  rebels,  as  well  as  upon  the 
guns  of  Wagner.  The  Confederates  were  hotly  pur 
sued  by  Gen.  Strong,  who  without  boots,  in  his  stock 
ings  and  bare  headed,  mounted  on  a  rebel  horse, 
caught  by  one  of  his  men,  led  his  troops  as  far  as  the 
Beacon  House,  a  once  fine  mansion,  and  the  only  one 
on  the  island,  but  now  sadly  riddled  with  shot  and 
shell.  The  operations  of  that  eventful  morning  were 
full  of  incidents,  attended  with  the  hopes  and  fears  of 
both  officers  and  men,  the  excitement  of  a  night  of 
anxious  watching,  known  only  to  those  who  have  been 
detailed  to  execute  some  apparently  desperate  and  dan- 


One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers.        187 

gerous  enterprise.  As  soon  as  Strong's  brigade  had 
landed,  the  boats  were  sent  across  the  inlet  and  took  over 
the  One  Hundredth  New  York,  Seventh  New  Hamp 
shire,  and  six  companies  of  the  Forty-eighth  New  York, 
which  joined  the  advance  at  the  Beacon  House.  At  the 
Beacon  House  the  troops  wrere  within  range  of  the  guns 
of  Wagner,  but  the  men  had  become  so  exhausted  with 
the  work  of  the  morning,  on  account  of  the  great  heat, 
that  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  proceed  farther. 
The  flags  of  the  Sixth  Connecticut  were  placed  upon 
the  Beacon  House,  but  they  drew  the  fire  of  the  enemy, 
and  were  soon  shot  down.  They  were  replaced  by 
those  of  another  regiment.  As  mentioned,  the  moni 
tors  rolled  their  ponderous  shells  across  the  surface  of 
the  island  to  hasten  the  flight  of  the  enemy.  Previous 
to  the  incidents  related,  Lieut.  C.  B.  Adriance  had 
been  detailed  as  aid  to  Gen.  Yogdes,  and  was  con- 
stanty  employed.  At  the  Beacon  House  Gen.  Strong 
was  reinforced.  The  details  were  arranged,  and  Wag 
ner  was  to  be  assaulted  at  daylight,  the  lith  of  July. 
The  assaulting  columns  were  the  Seventy-sixth  Penn 
sylvania,  Forty-eighth  and  One  Hundredth  New 
York,  Third  New  Hampshire,  Ninth  Maine,  and  Sixth 
and  Seventh  Connecticut,  comprising  the  brigades  of 
Seymour  and  Strong.  The  open  space  between  the 
Beacon  House  and  Wagner,  and  from  ocean  to  swamp, 
every  foot  of  it,  could  be  swept  by  the  enemy's  guns. 
They  were  waiting  and  expecting  an  attack.  They, 
too,  had  been  reinforced.  The  first  shock  of  fright 
of  the  preceding  day  had  passed.  The  rebels  had 


188        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 

strengthened  their  works  and  ordered  the  plan  of  their 
defence.  Our  brave  comrades,  flushed  with  recent  vic 
tory,  moved  gallantly  forward.  Sheets  of  flame  flashed 
from  the  parapets  of  the  fort.  Grape-shot  and  canis 
ter  went  scattering  through  the  ranks  of  those  valiant 
men.  On  they  pushed.  The  ditch  wras  gained,  crossed, 
and  the  parapet  scaled ;  but  for  the  want  of  supports 
those  heroes  of  a  day  were  obliged  to  retire,  leaving 
their  killed  and  wounded  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Had  this  assault  been  made  as  an  ending  of  the  work 
so  brilliantly  done  the  day  before,  there  is  no  doubt 
Wagner  would  have  fallen  and  many  lives  saved  that 
were  lost  in  the  subsequent  assault  and  siege,  before 
that  stronghold  received  the  protecting  folds  of  the 
stars  and  stripes.  Though  repulsed,  the  island  must 
be  held,  and  at  the  Beacon  House  the  scattered  forces 
were  collected,  and  began  at  once  to  intrench  for  future 
operations.  Morris  island  is  a  narrow  bed  of  sand 
north  of  Folly,  on  the  west  side  of  the  outer  harbor. 
Its  length  from  Cummings'  Point  to  Light  House  Inlet 
is  about  three  miles,  while  its  breadth  varies  from  a 
few  hundred  yards  to  a  hundred  feet  in  its  narrowest 
part.  Sand  hills  range  along  the  beach,  washed  by  the 
tidal  waves  which  sweep  across  the  island  at  various 
points.  The  opposite  side  slopes  off  into  salt  marshes 
more  than  two  miles  in  width,  with  deep  creeks 
separating  it  from  James  island.  Self  protection  is 
the  first  law  of  a  soldier,  as  of  a  civilian.  Weariness 
is  no  excuse  for  the  want  of  temporary  intrenchments. 
The  were  constructed.  The  batteries  from  Folly,  no 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        189 

longer  needed,  were  transported  to  Morris,  and  in  five 
days  were  in  position  against  Wagner.  The  work  was 
accomplished  under  the  fire  of  Wagner  and  Sumter's 


190        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXVIL 

GEN.  GILLMORE'S  CONGRATULATORY  ORDER  TO  THE  TROOPS. 
—  SPECIAL  MENTION  OF  GENS.  STRONG  AND  SEYMOUR. 

CAPT.    L.  S.  PAYNE. A   SECOND   ASSAULT   TO  BE 

MADE    ON    WAGNER.  BATTERIES    BROUGHT    FROM 

FOLLY    AND    PLANTED    BEFORE     WAGNER.  OTHER 

TROOPS  ORDERED  ON   TO  MORRIS  ISLAND.  SEVERE 

FATIGUE  AND  DANGEROUS  PICKETING.  JULY  18tll, 

AT  THE  EDGE  OF  EVENING,  THE  ASSAULT  TO  BE  MADE. 
THE  IRONCLADS  TO  ASSIST.  BRIGADES  OF  SEY 
MOUR,  PUTNAM  AND  STRONG.  STRONG  LED  THE 

ADVANCE. THE  BOMBARDMENT  CONTINUED  ALL  DAY. 

AT  NIGHT  THE  TROOPS  ASSAULTED  AND  WERE  RE 
PULSED. 

Gen.  Gillmore  issued  a  congratulatory  order  to  the 
troops,  July  13th,  for  the  brilliant  victory  of  July  10th, 
and  mentioning  especially  Gens.  Yogdes  and  Strong, 
the  former  for  his  energy  and  patience,  the  latter  for 
his  heroic  gallantry  in  leading  his  troops  in  the  charge 
upon  the  island  under  the  fire  of  the  heavy  guns  of  the 
enemy.  The  men  were  inspirited  and  cheered.  Since 
the  failure  to  take  the  fort  on  the  morning  of  the  llth, 
the  duties  of  the  men  were  very  severe.  The  danger- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        191 

ous  picketing,  and  construction  of  batteries  for  future 
use,  were  telling  sadly  upon  the  men.  Many  were 
being  wounded  daily.  Several  were  wounded  in  Co. 
"  I,"  July  13th,  and  one  in  Co.  "  G."  Casualties 
were  very  frequent. 

A  ISTew  York  paper  speaking  of  Capt.  L.  S.  Payne, 
of  the  One  Hundredth  New  York,  says  :  "  He  scouted 
all  around  Morris  island  before  we  took  it,  and  landed 
in  several  places.  He  seems  to  have  a  faculty  of  know 
ing  just  where  all  pickets  and  troops  are,  and  his  life 
is  evidently  charmed,  for  he  has  been  fired  on  many 
times  at  short  range.  He  has  command  of  all  our 
picket  lines." 

As  we  have  remarked,  generals  relied  upon  the 
accurate  observations  and  reliable  judgment  of  Capt. 
Payne,  and  ordered  their  plans  in  accordance  with  his 
representations.  His  valuable  services  were  appreci 
ated,  and  he  reflected  honor  upon  the  regiment  to 
which  he  belonged. 

It  had  been  decided,  that  a  sudden  attack,  following 
'  & 

a  heavy  bombardment  of  fleet  and  island  batteries 
might  put  us  in  possession  of  the  fort,  and  with  it,  the 
entire  island.  It  was  to  be  a  night  assault.  The 
evening  of  July  18th  was  fixed  upon  as  the  time  for  the 
sanguinary  sacrifice.  The  brigades  of  Gens.  Stephen- 
son  and  Montgomery,  were  ordered  from  Folly  island 
as  supports  and  reserves.  Strong's  brigade  had  the 
advance,  at  the  head  of  which  were  the  Fifty-fourth 
Massachusetts  colored  troops.  The  entire  force  con 
sisted  of  the  brigades  of  Seymour,  Strong  and  Putnam. 


192        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

We  wish  to  record  here  a  few  facts  relative  to  the 
Fifty-fourth  Massachusetts  colored  regiment,  and 
other  colored  regiments  that  took  part  subsequently 
in  the  operations  on  Morris  island.  During  a  visit  to 
Beaufort  previously  noted,  we  noticed  ahead  of  the 
mail  steamer,  General  Hunter,  the  fine  new  steamer 
De  Molay,  just  from  Boston,  which  we  were  in 
formed  contained  the  Fifty-fourth  Massachusetts 
colored  troops.  We  saw  them  land.  We  saw  the 
boxes  torn  open  and  the  guns  placed  in  their  hands. 
They  were  northern  negroes,  and  contrasted  strongly 
with  the  negro  troops  on  the  island.  The  former 
showed  northern  culture  and  living,  and  the  latter 
that  of  their  southern  homes.  We  will  repeat  here 
a  few  observations  made  at  the  time.  Here  are 
colored  troops  from  North  and  South.  Now  what  do 
we  see  in  all  this  ?  Why,  evidently,  that  this  war  is 
working  out  a  great  moral,  civil  and  political  pro 
blem.  The  South  will  be  changed.  Here  were  two 
pictures.  There  on  the  shore  stood  a  fine  body  of 
men,  recently  from  northern  homes.  They  are  lighter 
in  color,  more  active  and  intelligent  in  their  move 
ments,  than  their  southern  brethren.  To  me  it  seemed 
they  were  coming  home.  More  will  come.  They 
will  assimilate  here,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  many 
will  reside  here.  If  the  negro  has  been  the  innocent 
cause  of  the  rebellion,  then  through  Providence  he  will 
be  instrumental  in  meting  out  to  the  master  in  full 
the  wrongs  of  centuries.  They  will  fight,  and  that, 
too,  stubbornly  and  bravely.  They  know  the  country, 


One  Hundredth  JV.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        193 

and  it  is  well  that  tlieir  aid  should  help  to  end  this 
unnatural  and  bloody  war.  There  is  a  God  in  it,  and 
the  principles  of  right  and  freedom  will  live.  .The  fire 
fed  by  southern  passion  will  consume  the  hand  that 
holds  the  torch.  The  negro  is  naturally  a  soldier. 
He  is  transformed  since  arms  has  been  placed  in  his 
hands.  The  gun  and  accoutrements  make  him  proud, 
able  and  efficient.  He  shows  it  in  all  his  motions. 
They  learn  as  readily  to  handle  a  musket  as  a  razor. 

The  Fifty-fourth  was  ordered  on  service  immediate 
ly  to  one  of  the  coast  islands.  Then,  with  the  expedi 
tion  under  Gen.  Terry  before  Secessionville  on  James 
island.  They  were  not/  idle.  In  the  spirited  fight  on 
James  island  they  had  distinguished  themselves,  and 
now,  they  were  to  lead  the  advance  on  that  rebel 
stronghold,  the  already  blood-sprinkled  parapets  of 
Wagner.  The  regiment  had  arrived  that  afternoon 
and  reported  to  Gen.  Strong  at  6  P.  M.  Strong  went 
to  their  bivouack  in  the  sand,  and  informed  the  men 
of  the  contemplated  attack  upon  Wagner;  and  that 
they  had  been  assigned  the  post  of  honor,  and  asked 
if  they  were  willing  to  lead  the  assault.  They  re 
sponded  in  the  affirmative,  and  when  the  hour  came 
to  move  up  the  beach  they  marched  at  the  head  of  the 
troops.  The  assaulting  columns  were  formed  on  the 
beach  at  sundown.  That  no  misapprehension  may 
arise  relative  to  the  bravery  of  the  Fifty-fourth 
Massachusetts  colored  troops,  we  will  give  an  extract 
from  a  report  made-  of  their  fighting  on  James  island  : 
"  The  Fifty-fourth  fought  very  bravely.  They  had 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

numerous  invitations  to  become  prisoners,  under  cir 
cumstances  calculated  to  influence  acceptance,  but 
they  declined  in  every  instance,  for  the  terrors  of  bond 
age  and  strangulation  and  tortures,  were  worse  than 
those  of  death.  Not  a  single  prisoner  was  taken  from 
the  regiment.  Not  a  believer  in  arming  of  negroes, 
free  or  contraband,  as  soldiers,  I  must  do  this  regi 
ment  the  credit  of  fighting  bravely  and  well. 

"  Cowards  would  have  forgotten  the  future  in  the 
present,  and  sacrificed  prospective  danger  for  tempo 
rary  security.  The  rebels  attacked  them  with  the  cry 
6  No  quarter,'  and  they  accepted  the  conditions  of  the 
fight.  Several  fell  pierced  by  many  bullets,  while 
fighting  singly  with  half  a  dozen  of  rebels,  who  were 
trying  to  capture  them.  One  black  man,  bayoneted 
an  officer,  who  was  leading  a  squad  of  men,  and  then 
gave  a  thrust,  which  wounded  a  sergeant,  just  as 
he  was  falling  with  five  bullets  through  his  body. 
Another,  whose  arm  had  been  shot  oif,  brought  his 
musket  off  the  field  with  the  other  hand,  carrying  it 
till  he  fell  down  and  bled  to  death." 

This  is  the  testimony  of  a  not  over  favorable  mind 
to  the  negro  soldier,  though  subsequent  experience 
told  us  that  the  negro,  as  a  rule,  was  reliable  as  a 
friend  and  confidant,  and  as  a  servant  and  soldier. 

At  half  past  nine  A.  M.,  of  the  18th  of  July,  the 
first  shot  was  fired  from  our  batteries.  The  firing 
was  continued  from  the  land  batteries,  and  at  half 
past  eleven  A.  M.  the  ironclads  moved  up  within 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  of  Wagner,  and  opened  their 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.         195 

fire  from  monitors  and  the  New  Ironsides  ;  at  4  P.  M. 
the  guns  of  Wagner  were  silenced,  and  the  rebels 
had  betaken  themselves  to  the  bomb-proofs  of  the  fort 
for  protection. 

Toward  night  a  council  of  war  was  held,  and  it 
was  decided  to  take  the  fort  by  storm.  The  storming 
columns  moved  along  the  beach  deploying  and 
moving  in  column  alternately,  as  the  nature  of  ad 
vance,  and  surface  of  the  island  would  permit,  headed 
by  the  brigade  of  Gen.  Strong,  followed  by  those  of 
Putnam  and  Seymour.  The  brigade  of  Gen.  Stephen- 
son  was  held  in  reserve. 

It  was  not  so  dark  but  what  the  enemy  could  see 
them  forming,  and  they  were  expecting  an  attack. 
The  One  Hundredth  JSTew  York  was  a  part  of  Col. 
Putnam's  brigade,  and,  with  the  other  regiments  com 
posing  the  brigade,  had  been  waiting  on  the  beach 
under  the  bluffs  during  the  day,  for  the  decision  of 
generals  to  assault  or  retire.  As  recorded,  they  had 
decided  to  assault.  That  carnage,  that  carnival  of 
death,  that  slaughter  of  loved  ones,  that  hell  of  terror 
and  fire,  that  thunderous  roar  of  heavy  ordnance  and 
din  of  small  arms,  mingled  with  one  of  the  most  ap 
palling  storms  of  thunder  and  lightning  ever  seen,  or 
experienced,  such  as  only  a  southern  sky  can  hold, 
when  the  faces  of  the  soldiery,  as  they  advanced,  could 
only  be  seen  by  the  lurid  glare  of  heaven's  lightning ; 
this  charge  of  brave  men,  over  a  smooth  surface, 
flanked  by  sea  and  swamp,  with  not  a  stump,  tree, 
shrub  or  hillock  to  " cover"  fo?  a  moment:  this 


196        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

charge,  this  assault  has  been  described  often,  very 
often,  by  imaginary  observers,  as  well  as  by  actors  in 
that  fearful  drama ;  but  all  fail,  in  the  true,  real,  since 
no  one,  nor  a  hundred  minds  in  it,  when  out  of  it, 
could  remember  it,  as  a  whole,  save  as  an  awful  expe 
rience,  a  wonderful  escape  from  the  very  jaws  of 
death. 

The  exposure  of  the  soldiery  had  been  such  for 
sev^n  days  on  that  isle  of  shifting  sand,  attended  with 
heavy  fatigue  and  dangerous  picketing,  that  hardly  a 
message  could  be  sent  to  friends  at  home.  Worn  out 

O 

and  disheartened,  the  assault  seemed  but  the  end  of 
the  beginning.  As  they  moved  on  in  the  twilight, 
shot  and  shell  at  the  distance  of  more  than  a  mile 
would  thin  their  ranks.  Nearer  and  nearer  they  ap 
proached  the  volcano  of  detonating  death.  Shot  and 
shell  were  exchanged  for  grape  and  canister,  when  the 
destruction  became  fearful.  Encouraged  and  cheered 
by  their  officers,  those  heroes  pressed  steadily  for 
ward.  The  ditch  was  gained.  A  large  number 
mounted  the  parapet,  and  one  corner  of  the  fort  was 
taken  and  held  a  short  time,  though  commanded  by 
the  guns  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  fort.  In  the 
darkness  friend  was  mistaken  for  foe.  Cols.  Shaw 
and  Putnam  were  killed  on  the  crest  of  the  parapet. 
Gens.  Seymour  and  Strong  were  wounded.  There 
seemed  to  be  no  ruling  spirit  amid  this  terrible  mas 
sacre,  this  wholesale  execution  of  daring  and  courage 
ous  men.  Supports  were  not  at  hand.  The  remnants 
of  the  assaulting  columns  were  forced  to  grope  their 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  £  Volunteers.        197 

way  in  return  over  ditch  and  plain,  still  swept  with 
the  enemy's  guns ;  their  ears  pained  with  the  cries 
and  groans  of  wounded  men,  while  the  dead  were  wait 
ing  a  burial,  which  to  contemplate  was  to  curse  the 
rebellion  and  its  authors,  with  a  curse  that  appals 
the  living  and  takes  away  the  hopes  of  a  future.  It 
was  a  dance  with  death.  No  amusement,  no  romance, 
but  a  groping  by  the  sides  of  torn  and  mangled  com 
rades.  No  flight  with  winged  steeds  from  the  scenes 
of  blood  and  pain,  but  an  hourly  living  at  the  mouth 
of  the  tomb,  with  no  requiem,  save  the  moaning  surf 
along  the  sandy  shore.  The  retreat  was  as  deadly  as 
the  charge. 

"  Cannon  to  right  of  them, 

Cannon  to  left  of  them, 

Cannon  behind  them 

Volleyed  and  thundered ; 

Stormed  at  with  shot  and  shell, 

They  that  had  fought  so  well, 

Came  thro'  the  jaws  of  death, 

Back  from  the  mouth  of  hell, 
All  that  was  left  of  them," 


198         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE     REPULSE     AT     FORT     WAGNER.  THE     KILLED     AND 

WOUNDED. COL.  DANDY'S  LETTER  TO  THE  BOARD  OF 

TRADE. THE  BRAVERY  OF  THE  ASSAULTING  COLUMNS. 

—  THE  ISLAND  TO  BE  HELD. FOLLY  ISLAND  THE  BASE 

OF     SUPPLIES. TROOPS     ENCAMPED     AT    THE     SOUTH 

END    OF    MORRIS. THE     ERECTION     OF    WORKS     COM 
MENCED. — THE  "LEFT  BATTERIES."  —  THE  BATTERIES 

AT  THE  FIRST  AND  SECOND  PARALLELS. THE  "  SWAMP 

ANGEL,"  ITS  CONSTRUCTION,  COST  AND  USE. 

With  the  repulse  of  Strong's  brigade,  the  fearful 
slaughter  of  the  Fifty-fourth  Massachusetts  colored, 
and  the  short  and  bloody  grapple  of  other  regiments 
with  the  rebels,  on  and  over  the  parapets,  came  the  ad 
vance  of  Putnam's  brigade,  and  with  it  the  One  Hun 
dredth  New  York,  Col.  Dandy  and  Maj.  Nash.  Col. 
Putnam  inspired  his  whole  brigade  by  his  fearless, 
gallant  conduct.  Stragglers  were  intercepted  under  a 
hot  fire,  while  the  rear  division  of  the  Seventh  New 
Hampshire  and  a  portion  of  the  One  Hundredth  New 
York  were  massed  together,  and  essayed  to  get  a  foot 
hold  inside.  One  corner  of  the  fort  was  ours,  and  that 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.         199 

was  swept  by  grape  and  canister  and  exposed  to  mus 
ketry.  A  messenger  was  sent  for  reinforcements. 
Col.  Putnam  alone  remained  in  command,  and  alive. 
Gillinore,  cool  and  clear  headed,  ordered  on  the  brigade 
of  Stephenson.  Soon  a  messenger  arrived  to  say  that 
the  brave  and  chivalric  Putnam  was  killed,  and  that 
our  troops  had  retired  from  the  fort.  The  support 
ing  brigade  was  stopped  and  saved.  Our  killed  and 
many  wounded,  besides  prisoners,  were  left  in  the  hands 
of  the  rebels.  Our  entire  loss  was  fifteen  hundred 
and  seventeen.  At  how  great  a  cost  was  the  entity 
of  this  republic  purchased.  This,  added  to  the  scores 
of  assaults  and  battle  fields,  and  we  have  an  aggregate 
which  staggers  thought  and  bewilders  mentality. 
Wagner  must  be  taken  by  siege,  and  for  fifty  days,  in 
ditch  and  along  successive  parallels,  were  the  soldiery 
forced  to  creep  toward  that  obstacle,-  the  destroyer  of  a 
small  army,  Wagner,  the  name  and  memory  of  which 
will  live  while  history  has  a  record  and  governments 
an  existence.  Had  Wagner  fallen,  G-regg  and  the 
island  would  have  been  ours,  and  Sumter  could  have 
been  reduced  at  short  range.  Gen.  Gillmore  con 
ceived  the  idea  of  reducing  Sumter  and  Wagner  to 
gether.  Beauregard  assured  his  troops  that  Sumter 
could  not  be  breached  till  Wagner  was  reduced.  Gill- 
more's  one-hundred,  two-hundred  and  three-hundred- 
pounder  Parrott  guns  at  two  and  a  half  miles  range, 
told  a  diiferent  tale  to  the  boasting  Beauregard. 

The  list  of  casualties  in  most  of  the  regiments  of 
the    assaulting  brigades  was  frightful  and   shocking. 


200        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

The  loss  of  officers,  field  and  line,  was  large  in  propor 
tion  to  the  number  of  men  engaged. 

The  loss  of  the  One  Hundredth  regiment  was  great. 
Co.  "  I,"  Capt.  Brunck,  happened  to  be  on  duty  at  the 
south  point  of  the  island.  Among  the  officers  killed 
and  wounded,  were  Adjt.  Haddock  and  Lieut.  Charles 
H.  Runckle,  killed.  Maj.  D.  D.  ISTash,  who  had  been 
wounded  through  the  arm  at  Fair  Oaks,  was  shot 
through  the  thigh,  and  the  only  wonder  has  ever  been, 
that  his  tall,  manly  and  striking  presence,  a  sure  mark 
for  the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  had  not  long  before  been 
brought  low ;  for  most  heroically  did  he  cheer  on  his 
men  in  that  fearful  hour.  Lieut.  John  McMann  was 
fearfully  wounded  in  the  face  and  head,  an  officer  of 
steady,  stubborn,  bravery,  as  subsequently  evinced  in 
many  a  fight,  to  the  writer's  personal  knowledge. 
Capt.  Charles  H.  Eauert,  shot  through  the  arm,  an 
officer  of  tact,  knowledge  and  experience,  and  one 
.upon  whom  his  men  could  rely.  Capt.  "Warren  Gran 
ger  was  wounded  slightly  in  the  neck  and  face,  and  as 
his  record  as  a  fearless  spirit  had  been  established  at 
Fair  Oaks  and  through  the  Seven  Days'  fight,  nothing 
else  was  expected  of  him  than  that  he  would  be  in  at 
the  death  with  his  comrades  in  arms.  Lieut.  Cyrus 
Brown,  who  had  been  but  recently  commissioned,  was 
sadly  wounded,  suffered  amputation  of  one  of  his 
limbs,  and  subsequently  died  at  Port  Schuyler,  New 
York,  August  13th,  1863.  Lieut.  Michael  Friday  was 
slighty  wounded  in  the  hand,  but  able  to  do  duty  very 
soon. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        201 

The  record  of  non-commissioned  officers  is  large,  es 
pecially  among  the  sergeants,  which  shows  the  efforts 
they  made  to  cheer  and  steady  the  men  in  that  storm 
of  iron  hail.  First  Serg.  Edward  Pratt  was  shot 
through  the  arm  and  side,  and  who  subsequently  arose 
to  a  captaincy,  and  was  wounded  as  a  lieutenant  at 
Drury's  Bluff  when  with  the  writer,  making  a  charge 
on  the  enemy.  He  was  one  of  those  persistent,  continu 
ous  minds  that  kept  right  on  till  the  end,  and  duty  was 
done.  Serg.  Frank  Davy  was  almost  literally  cut 
to  pieces.  Serg.  John  "W.Whaples  fearfully  wounded. 
Serg.  Benjamin  F.  Hughson,  subsequently  commis 
sioned,  severely  wounded  in  thigh.  Serg.  George 
Morgan  badlv  in  shoulder.  Sergeants  Everts  and 

O  V 

Emery,  Rustin,  Gaylard,  Lynch,  Grebler,  besides  a  long 
list  of  corporals  and  men.  The  loss  of  Adjt.  Herbert 
H.  Haddock  was  almost  irreparable.  He  was  compe 
tent,  and  every  inch  a  soldier. 

"We  cannot  close  this,  to  us,  unwelcome  task  of  re 
cording  the  dead  and  wounded,  without  adding  an  ex 
tract  from  a  communication  sent  to  the  Board  of  Trade 
of  this  city,  by  Col.  Dandy,  who  escaped  unhurt  from 
that  fiery  ordeal  of  blood  and  battle.  He  says  :— 
"  I  cannot  forbear  expressing  my  admiration  of  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  One  Hundredth.  Under 
the  most  galling  fire  sustained  by  any  troops  since  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  the  regiment  marched  un 
flinchingly  in  line  of  battle  right  011  the  works  of  the 
enemy.  I  did  not  see  a  case  of  misconduct.  All  was 

done  there  that  brave  men  could  do,  and  if  we  did  not 
9* 


202        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  8.  Volunteers. 

succeed  in  taking  the  place,  it  was  because,  under  the 
circumstances  of  the  attack,  the  condition  of  the  enemy, 
and  strength  of  the  place,  it  was  impossible  for  brave 
men  to  take  it.  The  colors  presented  to  the  regiment 
by  the  Board  of  Trade  were  planted  on  the  fort  by 
Serg.  Flanders,  of  Co.  "  A,"  who  was  killed  in  de 
fending  them.  Corporal  Spooner,  of  Co.  "A," 
brought  off  the  colors,  after  the  sergeant  was  killed, 
and  although  much  soiled  and  torn,  they  are  now  safe 
with  the  regiment.  The  dead  and  wounded  heroes 
whose  names  I  send  you  have  unostentatiously  offered 
themselves  as  a  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  their  country's 
greatness  and  glory.  While  I  here  offer  my  heartfelt 
sympathies  to  their  bereaved  families  and  friends,  I 
think  I  can  perceive  in  the  distance  that  light  which  is 
the  forerunner  to  our  nation's  returning  greatness. 
Such  unselfish  patriotism,  such  tremendous  sacrifices, 
so  much  bloodshed,  so  much  suffering,  will  not  be  in 
vain." 

We  should  have  said,  that  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  men  killed,  the  number  of  each  was 
equally  divided.  The  hospitals  at  Beaufort,  Hilton 
Head  and  the  hospital  steamer  Cosmopolitan,  all  were 
crowded  with  the  wounded,  and  were  cared  for,  as  soon 
as  means  and  energies  could  be  brought  to  their  relief. 
Large  numbers  were  sent  North,  and  the  slightly 
wounded  remained  in  their  several  camps. 

From  the  relation  of  the  sad  duties  toward  the  dead 
and  wounded,  we  turn  to  the  state  of  instant  and  ac 
tive  operations.  Folly  island  was  the  base  of  supplies, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        203 

and  hence  it  was  guarded,  picketed  and  well  defended. 
Timber  for  firewood,  batteries,  magazines,  stockades 
and  other  purposes  must  be  supplied.  The  labor  of 
cutting,  hauling  and  transporting,  required  a  large 
number  of  men.  The  island  was  an  extensive  camp 
ing  ground,  for  the  necessary  troops  of  relief;  for  fa 
tigue  and  picket  in  the  trenches.  And  here  we  can 
not  forbear  to  mention  Capt.  Charles  E.  Walbridge, 
the  station  quartermaster  at  the  head  of  Folly  island. 
We  cannot  give  in  detail  the  extent  of  his  multiplied 
and  various  duties,  in  the  procuring  and  forwarding  of 
supplies,  for  his  business  energy  had  long  since  been  es 
tablished  among  general  officers.  At  this  time  of  the 
army's  needs  he  was  indefatigable.  He  had  in  charge 
the  construction  of  a  sawmill,  for  the  supply  of  boards 
and  plank  for  the  works  in  the  siege  of  Wagner. 
Steamers,  boats,  mules,  wagons,  all  were  at  his  com 
mand  and  order,  and  most  faithfully  did  he  perform 
his  duties,  from  that  hour  till  the  close  of  the  war. 
Now,  this  city  is  yet  to  learn  in  the  course  of  years 
what  the  army  was  able  to  feel,  that  in  the  army  quar 
termaster  is  a  faithful,  capable  and  intelligent  citizen. 
We  mention  individuals  when  we  know  that  they  in 
their  services  have  honored  the  regiment  and  the 
service. 

The  engineers  broke  ground  on  the  night  of  the 
25th  of  July.  Nothing  was  allowed  to  interfere  with 
the  work.  Neither  the  shot,  nor  shell  of  Wagner, 
Sumter  and  Gregg ;  nor  the  heat  of  a  tropical  sun, 
which  was  terribly  exhausting  to  the  men.  The  bat- 


204        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

teries  occupied  three  positions.     In  the  first  and  second 
parallels,  and  on  the  western  edge  of  the  island,  close 
to  the  marsh,  were  the    "left   batteries."      Most  of 
the  work  w^as  done   under  fire.     At  the  first  parallel 
was  a  battery  mounting  two  two-hundred-pounder  Par- 
rotts,  and  two  eighty-four  "Whit worth  guns,  five  eight- 
inch,  and  five  ten-inch  siege  mortars,  two  thirty-pounder 
Parrotts  and  a  Kequa  battery.     The  distance  of  these 
batteries  from  Sumter  was  four  thousand  yards,  over 
two  and   one-fourth  miles.      In  the  second  parallel, 
were  mounted  two  two-hundred-pounders  and  five  one- 
hundred-pounder  Parrotts  in  three   batteries  named 
Brown,  Kosecrans,  Meade,  at  a  distance  of  thirty -four 
hundred  yards,  a  little  less  than  two  miles.     The  "  left 
batteries,"  forty-two  hundred  and  thirty-six  yards  from 
Sumter,  were  four  in   number,  named  Hays,  Eeno, 
Stevens  and  Strong,  and  mounted  one  three-hundred- 
pounder,  two  two-hundred-pounders,  four  one-hundred- 
pounders,  and  four  twenty-pounder  Parrotts,  at  a  dis 
tance  of  nearly  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Sumter.     In 
rear  of  the  first  parallel,  and  near  the  Beacon  House, 
were  five  ten-inch  siege  mortars.     At  times  all  these 
batteries  were  used  against  Sumter.     The  most  famous 
battery  was  that  known  as  the  "  Swamp  Angel."     It 
was  in  the  marsh,  one  mile  from  our  left  batteries,  on 
the  edge  of  a  creek,  navigable  at  high  tide.     A  pole 
could  be  run  down  into  the  mud  sixteen  feet  before 
touching  solid  soil.     To  a  lieutenant  of  engineers  the 
active  work  was  assigned,  with  orders  to  make  a  requi 
sition    on    the    depot    quartermaster    for    what    he 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        205 

needed.  "When  shown  the  spot,  he  said  to  Col.  Serrell, 
that  it  was  simply  impossible.  The  Colonel  responded, 
"  that  there  was  no  such  word  as  fail  in  Morris  island 
orders"  The  next  day  the  Lieutenant  made  a  requi 
sition  for  one  hundred  men,  eighteen  feet  high,  to  wade 
through  mud  sixteen  feet  deep,  also  enquiring  of  the 
surgeon  if  he  could  splice  the  eighteen  feet  men  if  they 
were  furnished  him.  The  requisition  cost  the  facetious 
Lieutenant  his  arrest,  and  the  battery  was  built  by 
men  of  ordinary  stature.  It  was  constructed  of  sand 
bags,  brought  from  the  beach  at  night.  Gen.  Gillmore 
said  that  the  material  and  making  of  the  bags  cost 
the  government  five  thousand  dollars.  It  was  begun 
on  the  fourth  of  August,  and  finished  on  the  nine 
teenth.  A  two-hundred-pounder  Parrott  gun  was 
mounted  on  it.  which  cost  much  toil  to  get  into  position. 
It  was  situated  eighty-eight  hundred  yards  in  a  straight 
line  from  Charleston,  or  five  miles.  Shells  were  thrown 
into  the  streets  of  Charleston,  at  an  elevation  of  thirty- 
five  degrees,  and  the  two-hundred-pounder  burst  at 
the  thirty-fifth  discharge. 


206        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

COMMANDS    CHANGED    SINCE    THE   CHARGE    ON  WAGNER.  — 
DETAILS  SENT  NORTH  FOR  CONSCRIPTS   AND  RECRUITS. 
—  THE   LARGE    INCREASE   OF   SICK   ON   THE    ISLAND.— 
THE    SIEGE    PROSECUTED    WITH    VIGOR. REINFORCE 
MENTS    ARRIVE     FROM    THE     NORTH. FOLLY    ISLAND 

ONE  VAST  CAMP. A  BOAT  INFANTRY  ESTABLISHED.  — 

CAPT.   PAYNE,  THE  SCOUT,  TAKEN  PRISONER. CHRIS 
TIAN    AND    SANITARY    COMMISSIONS. SURGEON     KIT- 

TENGER  AND   HIS    COURSE    IN  THE    DISCHARGE    OF    HIS 
DUTIES. 

The  casualties  of  the  charge  on  Wagner  changed 
the  commands  ;  Gens.  Seymour  and  Strong  being  both 
wounded  and  unfit  for  duty,  Gen.  Terry  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  troops  on  Morris  island,  while  Gen. 
Yogdes,  who  had  command  of  Folly  island,  was  or 
dered  over  to  take  command  of  Strong's  brigade. 
This  left  Col.  Davis  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Pennsylvania  the  senior  officer  in  command  of  Folly 
island.  The  force  amounted  to  two  thousand  men. 

The  repulsed  brigades  encamped  at  the  foot  of  the 
island,  and  at  once  pitched  camps,  made  the  usual  pro- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers.        207 

visions  for  water,  and  guard,  and  camp  calls,  while 
orders,  reports  and  returns  were  promptly  completed. 
The  death  of  Lieut.  Haddock  called  to  the  adjutant's 
office  Capt.  Evert,  who  had  served  previous  to  our  ar 
rival  on  Folly  island.  An  order  was  issued  to  send 
a  complement  of  officers  and  men  E"orth  for  conscripts 
and  recruits  to  Eiker's  island,  near  the  city  of  ]STew 
York.  Capts.  Granger  and  Rauert  and  the  necessary 
men  were  sent.  Capt.  Eauert  did  not  return  to  the 
regiment,  but  resigned,  March  16th,  1864.  He  had 
made  many  applications  to  be  sent  to  his  regiment,  but 
was  refused ;  and  being  the  senior  captain,  and  entitled 
to  the  position  of  major,  when  the  necessary  promo 
tions  were  made,  and  as  there  was  no  prospect  of  that 
being  accomplished  for  some  time,  he  was  lost  to  the 
service.  He  was  a  faithful,  reliable  and  efficient  offi 
cer. 

Capt.  Granger  remained  at  Hiker's  island  till  the 
following  June,  and  rejoined  his  company  and  regi 
ment  at  Bermuda  Hundreds,  on  the  James  river. 

The  heat  on  the  island  became  intense.    Though  the 

c> 

days  were  so  warm,  still  the  nights  were  cool.  Close  to 
the  ocean's  shore  the  breeze  off  the  water  was  life-giving 
and  inspiring.  The  sick  list  was  alarmingly  on  the  in 
crease.  The  severe  duty  of  fatigue  at  the  front,  in  the 
construction  of  batteries,  mixed  with  the  fear  of  ex 
ploding  shells,  was  fearfully  exhausting  to  the  men. 
The  remainder  of  July  wore  away,  the  regiment  was 
mustered  for  pay;  though  limited  in  officers  and  less 
ened  in  the  number  of  men,  yet  its  share  of  duty 


208        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

and  fatigue  was  performed  with  a  less  number  on  its 
sick  list  than  any  other  regiment  lying  near. 

Later,  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  camped  next  to  the 
One  Hundredth,  had  nearly  three  hundred  and  sixty 
on  its  sick  list,  while  that  of  the  One  Hundredth  did 
not  reach  seventy.  Surg.  Kittenger  was  ordered  to 
attend  the  sick  call  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  and  as 
certain  the  true  condition  of  the  men,  and  reduce  if 
possible  the  large  number  of  its  sick.  Most  faithfully 
did  he  perform  his  duty,  but  he  assured  the  writer 
that  the  number  could  not  be  reduced,  and  the  regi 
ment  was  sent  to  Fernandina,  Florida,  to  recruit  its 
weakened  numbers. 

At  this  time  there  were  nineteen  hundred  sick  on 
Morris  island  alone.  These  staggering,  ghostly  men 
swarmed  the  camps  on  the  island,  and  was  not  with 
out  its  sad  effects  upon  the  rest  just  able  to  do  duty. 

August  opened.  The  slightly  wounded  wrere  return 
ing  from  the  hospitals  of  Beaufort  and  Hilton  Head, 
and  the  steady  labor  at  the  front,  together  with  the 
regular  explosion  of  shell  from  rebel  batteries,  were 
the  expected  succession  of  events  as  each  day  suc 
ceeded  the  other  on  that  sandy  isle. 

The  absence  of  Capt.  Granger  and  resignation  of 
Lieut.  Sheffer,  left  the  company  in  command  of  the 
writer.  Other  companies  were  similarly  situated,  and 
a  few  at  times  were  without  any  commissioned  officer 
fit  for  duty.  Truly  Morris  island  was  a  place  to  create 
desponding  men. 

The  2cl  of  August  large  reinforcements  began  to  ar- 


LEWIS  S.PAYNE. 

Lt.Colonel  IOCHh  Re^N.YVols. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        209 

rive  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  Folly  island  was 
one  vast  camping  ground. 

At  this  time  Capt.  L.  S.  Payne  lived  almost  nightly 
in  the  creeks,  and  in  the  bay  about  the  vicinity  of 
Sumter.  Toward  the  close  of  the  clay,  with  his 
picked  men,  and  rockets  under  his  arm,  he  could  be 
seen  leaving  camp  for  his  boat,  and  his  work  of  hazard 
ous  expeditions.  The  day  following  his  last  departure 
reports  came  to  camp  of  his  death,  and  a  succession  of 
ill-omened  tidings,  which  filled  all  hearts  with  dread 
and  suspense  that  subsequent  facts  only  allayed,  when 
it  was  accurately  known  that  the  "  scout "  was  alive, 
a  prisoner  in  Charleston,  though  severely  and  danger 
ously  wounded.  His  work  at  night  had  been  to  indi 
cate  the  presence  of  the  rebel  steamers  and  boats  by 
sending  up  rockets,  and  our  gunners  in  response  would 
train  their  pieces,  and  in  one  instance  had  sent  a  rebel 
vessel  to  the  bottom.  The  rebels  were  annoyed  and 
aroused,  and  resolved  upon  his  capture.  It  was  ac 
complished,'  and  the  generals  on  the  island  lost  their 
guide,  who  had  served  them  long,  faithfully  and  well. 
Capt.  Payne  was  subsequently  commissioned  as  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel,  Nov.  10th,  1863,  though  not  mustered. 
He  suffered  long  in  rebel  prisons,  and  was  finally  re 
leased  and  restored  to  the  bosoi*  of  his  family  and 
friends. 

The  siege  went  on.  Parallel  after  parallel  was 
opened  till  they  reached  five  in  number,  with  a  trench, 
or  covered  way,  as  it  is  termed,  connecting  each  to  the 
other,  and  in  which  the  details,  as  guards,  remained  for 


210        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

twenty-four  hours,  awaiting  a  "  sortie  "  if  attempted 
by  the  enemy.  The  engineers  and  details  for  fatigue 
continued  their  work  nightly  under  the  fire  of  Wagner 
and  Sumter's  guns.  This  daily  confinement  in  a  nar 
row  trench  was  trying  and  severe.  The  sand  drifting 
over  the  men,  the  heat  of  a  burning  July  and  Au 
gust  sun,  the  inflowing  of  the  tide  at  times,  with 
shoes  and  stockings  around  our  necks,  and  nearly 
swimming  in  our  narrow  ditch,  the  bursting  shells  as 
thrown  from  "Cohorn"  mortars  and  dropped  into  the 
trench,  wounding  and  killing  our  comrades  hourly  and 
daily,  to  say  nothing  of  the  exhaustion  by  labor  and 
heat,  causing  fevers  and  chronic  diarrhoea,  making  the 
island  a  charnel  house ;  all  these  results  were  of  daily 
occurrence. 

Without  drums,  and  in  silence,  our  heroes  were 
borne  to  their  homes  in  the  sand,  and  that  ominous 
volley  told  us,  almost  hourly,  of  that  last  honor  to  loved 
and  cherished  comrades,  whose  places  had  been  at  our 
sides  in  battle,  charge  and  trench ;  but  now,  neither  the 
thunders  of  the  heavens,  nor  the  artillery  shaking  the 
isle,  could  wake  them  to  duty  again. 

During  the  siege  each  day  in  the  history  of  the  regi 
ment  was  of  a  similar  character.  An  hour  before  day 
the  regiment  was  turned  out  in  line  of  battle  on  the 
beach.  At  sunrise  marched  in,  and  half  an  hour  for 
breakfast.  Then  details  for  fatigue  at  various  points, 
and  nightly  at  the  front ;  and  after  the  fall  of  Wagner 
they  were  sent  in  the  morning  as  well  as  evening. 

Gillmore's  batteries  were  nearly  completed  at  the 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        211 

time  and  ready  to  open  on  Sumter.  Troops  were  sta 
tioned  at  various  points,  as  preventives  of  surprise. 
A  boat  infantry  was  organized  to  picket  the  creeks 
next  to  Morris  island.  It  was  placed  in  command  of 
Maj.  Sandford,  of  the  Seventh  Connecticut.  The  men 
were  relieved  of  all  other  duty.  Capt.  Ferris  suc 
ceeded  Sandford,  and  subsequently  Capt.  John  Hen- 
nessy,  Fifty-second  Pennsylvania,  was  placed  in  com 
mand.  Officers  and  men  were  detailed  from  several 
regiments.  Lieut.  Fred.  Sandrock  was  detailed  from 
the  One  Hundredth  for  that  duty,  at  once  responsible 
and  important.  Co.  u  D,"  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Jewell,  was  stationed  near  one  of  the  streams,  and 
the  company,  from  its  experience  with,  and  under  the 
direction  of  Capt.  Payne,  furnished  details  for  explor 
ations  and  scouting  through  the  swamps  and  creeks 
next  to  James  island. 

This  service,  and  that  of  the  boat  infantry,  was  both 
dangerous  and  hazardous,  and  subjected  the  officers 
and  men  to  great  exposure.  Those  engaged  in  these 
duties  will  always  have  a  lively  recollection  of  the 
long  winter  nights  they  spent  in  their  boats,  in  cold 
and  storm,  patrolling  Charleston  harbor,  watching  for 
the  approach  of  the  enemy. 

Temporary  hospitals  were  established  on  the  island. 
What  could  be  done  for  sick  and  wounded  men  was 
done  on  the  spot  to  save  time  and  transportation. 
The  Christian  and  Sanitary  commissions  had  pitched 
their  tents,  and  their  welcome  flags  were  flying. 
Cargoes  of  ice  arrived  in  the  inlet,  and  were  economi- 


212        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 

cally  distributed  to  the  several  brigades.  Guards 
were  placed  over  the  casks,  and  no  soldier  was  allowed 
to  take  more  than  he  could  drink,  as  none  was  to  be 
wasted  or  taken  away.  Sutlers  wTere  established  on 
every  hand,  and  after  each  pay  day,  swept  large  por 
tions  of  the  money  received  into  their  pockets.  Photo 
graphers  were  taking  sun  pictures  of  newly  made  of 
ficers,  and  the  men  indulged  in  the  same,  so  that  many 
a  faithful  likeness  of  soldier  and  friend  found  its  way 
North  into  the  homes  of  those  sufferers  on  Morris  is 
land. 

In  closing  this  chapter  we  are  urged  from  a  sense  of 
duty  to  speak  of  the  services  of  Surg.  Kittenger. 
Many  a  soldier  and  officer  felt,  while  in  the  service, 
that  he  wras  severe  and  unrelenting  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties,  as  a  surgeon,  under  obligations  to  the 
government,  to  minister  to  the  physical  of  the  men  in 
times  of  sickness  and  its  needs.  We  had  felt  the 
stinging  effect  of  his  cool  and  deliberate  judgments, 
and  often  thought  that  more  leniency,  and  an  exercise 
of  the  excusing  power  from  service,  and  fatigue,  would 
have  worked  up  a  better  morale  in  the  regiment,  but 
now  we  see  things  clearer.  The  surgeon  hated  hum 
bugs,  shirks  and  deceivers,  whether  found  under  shoul 
der  straps,  or  the  plain  color  of  the  army  blue.  He 
knew  that  the  government  needed  all  its  men  for  the 
work  to  be  performed,  and  hence  his  care  to  know  the 
real  state  of  the  case  in  hand,  and  decide  for  the  sol 
dier,  disinterested,  and  save  him  from  the  growing  in 
sanity,  too  common,  of  disability  and  utter  worthless- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        213 

ness  and  inefficiency  as  servants  of  the  government. 
From  this  time  to  the  close  of  his  term  of  service  his 
skill  was  made  available  at  the  most  needed  localities ; 
an  honor  to  the  regiment  and  a  saving  to  the  govern 
ment  of  many  valuable  men,  who  under  a  more  lax  and 
lenient  officer  would  have  become  unfit  for  duty  and 
a  burden  to  camp  and  the  command. 


214        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

GILLMORE'S  LAND  BATTERIES  OPENED  ON  SUMTER  AUGUST 

17TII.  THE  IRONCLADS  ASSISTED.  THE  BOMBARD 
MENT  CLOSED  ON  THE  23D.  SUMTER  WAS  PRO 
NOUNCED  USELESS  FOR  OFFENSIVE  OPERATIONS. THE 

SIEGE  CONTINUED. THE    THIRD,  FOURTH    AND    FIFTH 

PARALLELS     WERE    OPENED.  THE     TWENTY-FOURTH 

MASSACHUSETTS  DROVE  IN  THE  ENEMY'S  PICKETS. 
— THE  SUFFERINGS  AND  CASUALTIES  AMONG  THE  MEN. 

— AN  EXPEDITION  AGAINST    BATTERY  GREGG. IT  WAS 

UNSUCCESSFUL. 

On  the  17th  of  August  Gillmore's  batteries  opened 
on  Sumter.  The  first  discharge  from  a  two-hundred- 
pounder  Parrott  gun  struck  the  parapet  of  Sumter  on 
the  side  next  the  city,  and  knocked  down  several  cart 
loads  of  brick,  which  fell  on  a  steamer  lying  at  the 
wharf,  and  crushed  her  smoke  stack.  At  the  same 
time  the  ironclads  moved  up  to  take  part  in  the  bom 
bardment,  The  monitors  Patapsco  and  Passaic  di 
rected  their  fire  on  the  fort,  while  the  other  vessels 
engaged  Wagner  to  prevent  her  guns  annoying  our 
batteries. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        215 

The  fire  of  the  land  batteries  was  continued  through 
the  day  without  cessation,  and  by  night  the  parapet 
presented  a  very  battered  appearance.  The  great 
holes  in  the  wall  made  it  look  as  though  pitted  by  a 
strong  attack  of  small  pox.  The  firing  was  renewed 
every  morning  from  day  to  day,  and  ceased  at  sunset, 
until  the  close  of  the  23d,  when  the  fort  for  all  offen 
sive  purposes  was  destroyed. 

All  the  barbette  guns  were  dismounted  and  buried 
up  in  the  debris.  The  gorge  wall  and  sea  face  were  so 
badly  shattered,  that  in  many  places  the  arches  of  the 
casements  were  exposed. 

The  enemy  replied  feebly  and  did  but  little  damage. 
The  sight  was  an  interesting  one  to  the  soldier,  and 
the  accuracy  of  the  aim  at  such  long  range  was  re 
markable.  From  time  to  time  the  fleet  assisted  in  the 
bombardment,  but  the  men  shut  up  in  ironclads  could 
only  stand  it  a  few  hours  at  a  time,  when  the  vessels 
were  compelled  to  retire.  The  fire  of  the  land  batteries 
wras  continuous  with  reliefs  for  the  guns.  Six  thousand 
two  hundred  and  fifty  projectiles  were  hurled  at  the 
fort.  A  correspondent  of  the  Mobile  Tribune,  who 
was  within  the  fort  during  the  last  day's  bombardment, 
says : — "  For  seven  hours,  at  close  range,  the  fleet, 
ironsides  and  monitors,  hurled  shot  and  shell  into  the 
work,  striking  the  wall  near  the  parapet,  loose  bricks 
were  thrown  up  in  columns  and  fell  in  showers  around 
the  gunners.  Walls  were  ploughed  through,  case 
ments  were  filled  with  sand,  and  shells  passed  across 
the  parade,  striking  the  interior  wall  of  the  west  maga- 


216        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

zinc,  containing  powder  enough  to  destroy  fort  and  gar 
rison.  One  shell  struck  the  ventilator  and,  explod 
ing,  filled  the  magazine  with  smoke.  Another  more 
successful  shot  and  all  would  have  been  lost.  It  was 
an  anxious  moment,  but  the  fort  was  held.  Gradually 
the  morning  dawned.  The  fog  lifted,  and  fort  Moul- 

O  O 

trie  opened  fire  on  the  ships.  Instead  of  continuing 
their  fire  at  this  critical  period,  the  fleet  withdrew  and 
the  danger  was  removed.  The  object  was  now,  in  the 
unsafe  condition  of  the  fort,  to  get  rid  of  the  powder. 
It  depended  on  time  and  the  movements  of  the  fleet. 
Had  the  fleet  renewed  the  attack  the  business  might 
have  been  done.  The  fleet  delayed. 

"  Night  after  night  the  powder  was  moved  in  barrels 
under  the  enemy's  guns.  Only  eight  hundred  pounds 
were  left.  The  crisis  was  passed.  The  fort  was  now 
safe  from  the  explosion  of  powder  in  the  magazine. 
When  the  bombardment  began  there  were  a  hundred 
and  thirty-one  thousand  pounds  of  powder  in  the 
magazine,  which  was  removed  and  shipped  to  Charles 
ton." 

Sumter  was  reduced,  and  the  guns  of  "Wagner  and 
Gregg  were  only  occasionally  heard.  Batteries  on 
James  island  were  opened  to  enfilade  our  works  against 
Wagner.  Day  and  night,  mid  the  explosion  of  shell 
and  the  sun's  heat,  the  siege  continued. 

The  third  parallel  at  the  distance  of  four  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  from  Wagner  was  opened  on  the  night 
of  the  9th  of  August.  The  fourth  parallel  was 
opened  on  the  22d,  at  the  distance  of  three  hundred 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        217 

yards  from  the  fort.  A  short  distance  in  front  of  this 
was  a  sand  ridge,  where  the  enemy's  sharpshooters 
were  stationed,  who  annoyed  our  men  in  the  trenches 
considerably,  and  it  became  necessary  to  seize  and 
hold  it  before  the  approaches  could  be  carried  forward 
beyond  it.  Col.  Osborn,  with  the  Twenty-fourth  Mass 
achusetts,  made  a  charge  with  the  bayonet,  which 
was  successful,  and  seventy  odd  prisoners  were  cap 
tured.  A  short  time  previous  three  regiments  had 
been  selected  to  go  out  of  the  works  nightly  and  drive 
in,  and  nearer  the  fort,  the  rebel  pickets.  Of  this 
number  the  One  Hundredth  New  York  was  one.  De 
tails  were  made  from  the  regiment,  as  from  others,  for 
sharpshooters  and  the  manning  of  the  several  batteries. 
At  the  point  where  the  prisoners  were  captured  the 
fifth  and  last  parallel  was  opened.  Beyond  this  point 
the  approaches  were  simply  zigzags,  making  very  sharp 
angles,  as  there  was  not  sufficient  front  to  develope  a 
parallel.  In  this  manner  the  engineers  continued  to 
creep  up  to  Wagner  until  they  crowned  the  counter 
scarp  on  the  night  of  the  6th  of  September.  The 
enemy  were  confined  to  the  fort  and  its  bomb-proofs. 
From  the  large  number  of  torpedoes  planted  in  front 
of  the  fort,  the  rebels  dared  not  make  a  sortie  for  the 
destruction  that  would  follow  from  their  own  infernal 
machines.  The  nearness  to  the  fort  made  the  work  of 
engineers  and  fatigue  parties  doubly  dangerous  on  ac 
count  of  the  low  trenches  and  indifferent  cover  for  the 
troops.  At  this  time  Surg.  Hamlin,  the  medical  in 
spector  of  the  department,  made  a  tour  of  the  camps, 
10 


218        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

and  reported,  that,  should  the  siege  continue  much 
longer,  it  would  be  more  economical  of  life  to  make  a 
third  assault  than  continue,  as  now,  with  the  ther 
mometer  at  one  hundred  degrees  and  over,  with  pres 
ent  daily  losses,  by  casualties  and  disease. 

Shells  were  exploding  in  splinter  proofs  and  trench 
daily,  killing  and  wounding  groups  of  men  from  five 
to  twenty.  It  was  not  uncommon  to  look  upon  a 
comrade  one  moment  in  life  and  the  next  behold  him  a 
shattered  corpse.  We  have  slept  amid  our  uiiburied 
dead  waiting  the  morning  light  to  bear  them  to  their  hoi- 

O  O        ^3 

lows  in  the  sand.  Whole  regiments  were  ordered  from 
the  island  to  Florida,  that  hospital  of  sick  and  weary, 
and  disheartened  men,  where  quiet  and  the  healthful 
breezes  of  the  ocean  gave  them  strength  and  vigor 
again. 

The  casualties  in  the  One  Hundredth  Eegiment, 
during  the  siege  of  fifty  days,  were  one  hundred  and 
four  in  killed  and  wounded.  The  nightly  and  daily 
w^ork  of  covering  magazines,  building  splinter  proofs 
and  digging  trenches,  planting  gabions,  and  all  done 
with  the  fears  kept  alive  by  the  continuous  explosion 
of  shells  and  that  unearthly  scream  of  a  Whit  worth 
gun,  which  allowed  not  a  second  for  cover,  but  shell 
and  report  seemed  on  the  spot  instantaneously.  The 
daily  burrowing  in  the  drifting  sand  during  those  long 
days  of  August  was  torture  and  a  slow  death. 

Soldiers  who  suffered  there  look  into  each  other's 
faces,  and  that  island  life  is  lived  over  again.  What 
hopes,  what  fears,  On  duty,  companions  with  death  • 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        219 

off  duty,  we  were  free  from  anguish  and  that  living 
death  which  is  indescribable.  How  wide  the  contrast, 
within  range  of  shell  and  out  of  range.  Xone  save 
those  who  have  experienced  the  two  dissimilar  sensa 
tions  can  understand  their  weighty  significance.  At 
this  stage  in  the  history  of  the  siege,  Gen.  Gillmore's 
attention  was  called  to  the  probable  success  of  a  night 
attack  in  boats  upon  Battery  Gregg.  If  successful  the 
retreat  of  Wagner's  garrison  would  be  cut  off,  and  the 
work  fall  into  our  hands. 

Five  hundred  men  were  detailed  from  four  of  the 
most  reliable  regiments,  and  the  command  of  the  ex 
pedition  was  entrusted  to  Maj.  Sandford  of  the  Seventh 
Connecticut.  One  hundred  men  were  taken  from  the 
One  Hundredth  New  York.  The  officers  detailed 
with  the  men  by  Adjt.  Evert  were  Lieuts.  Lynch 
and  Stowits.  We  remember  the  visit  of  the  Chaplain 
to  the  tent  of  the  writer  to  ascertain  if  we  could  swim. 
When  assured  we  could,  he  responded  that  it  was  favor 
able.  We  knew  not  then  of  our  detail  for  the  expedi 
tion.  Boats  had  been  collected  in  one  of  the  creeks,  and 
the  men  assembled  near  the  camp  of  the  boat  infantry, 
and  awaited  darkness,  before  embarking.  The  officers 
were  allowed  to  look  at  the  plan  of  the  fort,  beach  and 
bay,  which  had  been  drawn,  and  was  in  the  hands  of 
Maj.  Sandford.  The  instructions  were  very  simple, 
and  we  shall  never  forget  them.  Scanning  the  man 
ner  of  Maj.  Sandford,  and  his  apparent,  to  us,  unfitness 
for  so  responsible  a  work,  we  could  not  but  feel  that 
many  brave  men,  if  landed,  would  be  destroyed. 


220        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.   Volunteers. 

Files  for  spiking  the  guns  were  put  into  the  hands  of 
men  selected  for  that  purpose.  On  inquiry  as  to  what 
should  be  used  for  driving  the  files,  the  answer  was 
given  that  anything  that  lay  around  the  gun.  To  us, 
that  was  too  uncertain.  We  obtained  permission  to 
leave  the  guns  of  the  men  selected,  and  ordered  them 
to  use  the  flat-side  of  the  bayonet,  that  no  time  should 
be  lost  in  searching  in  the  sand  or  battery  for  what 
might  not  be  at  hand.  The  orders  were  to  head  the 
boats  for  the  beach,  land,  form,  and  rush  for  the  fort, 
spike  the  guns,  blow  up  the  magazine  and  retire. 
Serg.  Rosenburger,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Pennsylvania,  volunteered  to  apply  the  match  to  the 
magazine.  We  endeavored  to  impress  our  men  with 
the  danger,  as  well  as  the  importance  of  the  enterprise, 
that  each  man  should  act  for  himself  and  as  though  he 
wras  to  do  the  work  alone  and  unaided.  In  conse 
quence  of  the  limited  number  of  boats  a  large  number 
were  left  behind.  The  boats  were  filled  witli  a  quiet, 
thoughtful  band.  We  glided  along  witli  the  music  of 
shell  overhead,  exploding  and  striking  the  water  about. 
As  we  neared  the  bay  a  boat  shot  out  from  Gregg. 
She  was  hailed.  No  attention  paid.  We  fired  and 
brought  her  to.  We  captured  a  surgeon,  major  and 
ten  men.  The  garrison  was  aroused,  and  we  were 
ordered  back.  The  next  night  a  second  attempt  was 
made,  with  no  better  success.  The  enemy  opened  on 
the  boats  and  drove  them  off.  The  loss  was  slight. 
Thus  ended  an  illy  conceived  and  fruitless  enterprise. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.       221 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


A     THIRD     ASSAULT      ON      WAGNER     WAS     ORDERED.  THE 

REBELS    HAD    EVACUATED. THE    FORTS    AND    ISLAND 

OURS. THE  FORTS  TO  BE  REBUILT. GEN.  GILLMORE 

CONGRATULATES  IN  GENERAL  ORDERS. HE  IS  COM 
MISSIONED  AS  MAJOR  GENERAL. DETAILS  FOR  DUTY 

ON  PICKET  AND  FATIGUE  ARE  CONSTANT  AND  REGU 
LAR.  WEATHER  COOL  AND  DISAGREEABLE. ARRI 
VAL  OF  RECRUITS. THE  USUAL  ROUTINE  OF  CAMP 

DUTIES. 

A  third  assault  on  Wagner  was  ordered.  The  time 
to  be  9  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  September  the 
7th,  the  fiftieth  day  of  the  siege.  The  details  were 
arranged.  Large  numbers  of  troops  had  arrived  from 
the  army  of  the  Potomac.  We  had  crowned  the 
counterscarp  of  the  ditch,  and  had  reached  the  pali 
sades.  The  trenches  were  widened  for  the  easy  pas 
sage  of  troops.  A  strong  calcium  light  was  thrown 
upon  the  fort  by  night,  to  expose  the  enemy's  opera 
tions.  For  forty  hours  previous  to  the  time  fixed  for 
the  assault,  the  land  batteries  were  opened  on  Wagner, 
and  at  the  same  time  the  Ironsides  moved  up  within 


222        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

a  thousand  yards  and  poured  her  broadsides  into  the 
fort,  while  the  monitors  added  their  eleven  and  fifteen- 
inch  shells.  The  watchfulness  of  an  increased  number 
of  sharpshooters,  added  to  the  continued  explosion  of 
shells  in,  above  and  around  the  fort,  drove  every 
rebel  within  the  impenetrable  bomb-proofs.  The  sand 
that  covered  them,  was  piled  in  the  openings,  mak 
ing  suffocation  imminent.  The  time  had  come  to  en 
act  a  third,  and  perhaps  bloodier,  drama  upon  the 
parapets  of  Wagner.  Long  before  dawn  the  troops 
formed  on  the  beach,  waiting  the  command  forward. 
Officers  and  men  had  written  their  wishes  to  friends, 
that  if  lost  in  the  charge,  some  few  words  of  remem 
brance  might  be  found  as  the  last  on  earth.  The  One 
Hundredth  New  York,  a  portion  of  Stephenson's  bri 
gade,  were  to  move  by  the  fort  and  assault  in  the 
rear.  The  Ninety-seventh  Pennsylvania  and  Third 
New  Hampshire  were  the  two  storming  regiments  in 
front  to  clear  the  small  space,  to  leap  the  ditch  and 
scale  the  parapets,  while  the  supports  were  steadily  ad 
vancing. 

The  order  was  given,  and  slowly  and  silently  we 
moved  forward.  Closer  and  closer  we  approached  the 
sand  walls  of  that  rebel  stronghold.  The  silence  was 
ominous.  Not  a  man  to  be  seen,  or  sound  of  life  to 
be  heard.  All  hearts  were  lightened,  as  the  report 
flew  along  the  unbroken  ranks,  Wagner  is  evacuated. 
That  body  of  men  was  expanded  into  light-hearted- 
ness,  that  a  few  moments  before  was  sinking  with 
leaden  depression  and  expected  death.  On  to  Gregg  in 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        223 

time  to  secure  nearly  seventy  prisoners.  The  island 
and  its  forts  were  ours,  while  thousands  of  hearts  were 
filled  with  joy  unspeakable  and  indescribable.  Our 
work  was  not  ended.  The  forts  were  to  be  rebuilt, 
and  additional  batteries  to  be  constructed,  as  Charles 
ton  could  be  reached  with  ease,  since  the  fall  of  Wag- 
iier  and  Gregg.  Night  and  day  under  fire  the  work 
went  on. 

The  bombardment  of  Sumter,  "Wagner  and  Gregg 
by  our  fleet,  particularly  the  New  Ironsides  and  moni 
tors,  as  well  as  our  land  batteries,  will  stand  in  the 
history  of  wars  above  all.  We  fought  the  science  of 
Europe,  as  well  as  our  own.  Foreign  nations,  in  rebel 
hands,  had  on  trial  the  best  ordnance  they  could  pro 
duce,  but  the  indomitable  Yankee  smashed  through 
them  all  on  sea  and  land,  and  now  has  his  specimens 
of  floating  batteries  on  exhibition  around  the  globe. 
The  war  of  iron  hail  went  on ;  midnight  messengers, 
with  tongues  of  fire,  were  sent  nightly  into  that 
doomed  city,  appalling  the  hearts  of  its  people,  and 
often  adding  death  to  the  work  of  general  destruction. 

The  duties  of  camp  to  the  close  of  August  were 
regular  and  imperative.  The  details  to  the  front 
must  be  furnished.  When  the  casualties  were  frequent 
the  men  at  one  time  manifested  a  disposition  to  dis 
obey,  which  was  promptly  met,  and  in  the  case  of  non 
commissioned  officers  they  were  reduced  to  the  ranks. 
Regiment  was  mustered  for  pay.  The  weather  con 
tinued  warm.  After  the  subj  ugation  of  the  island,  camp 
life  became  monotonous.  The  work  on  the  forts  was 


224        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

pushed  with  energy  through  the  months  of  September 
and  October,  and  on  the  17th  day  of  November  nine 
teen  shells  were  thrown  into  Charleston  from  Battery 
Gregg,  and  the  following  day  a  one-hundred-pounder 
Parrott  gun  threw  fourteen  shells  into  that  fated 
town. 

In  the  meantime  promotions  were  made  in  the  regi 
ment  to  meet  the  scanty  needs  of  officers.  Capt. 
Michael  Bailey  was  discharged  and  left  for  the  North. 
Sergeants  Fred.  Sandrock,  William  Evans,  Myron  P. 
Pierson,  Edward  Pratt,  James  H.  French,  Benjamin 
F.  Hughson,  were  commissioned  second  lieutenants. 
Wayne  "Vogdes,  a  son  of  Gen.  Vogdes,  had  been  com 
missioned  previously,  and  joined  the  regiment,  and 
assigned  to  Co.  u  I."  Edwin  Nichols,  of  Co.  "  C.," 
had  been  commissioned  as  second  lieutenant.  Second 
Lieuts.  Edward  S.  Peck,  Cornelius  B.  Adriance 
and  George  H.  Stowits  were  commissioned  as  first 
lieutenants.  During  the  building  of  the  forts  the  Sani 
tary  and  Christian  commissions  had  so  systematized 
their  work  that  the  men  on  the  island  enjoyed  many 
needed  provisions  of  a  sanitary  character. 

Admiral  Dahlgren  demanded  the  surrender  of  Fort 
Sumter.  The  demand  was  refused.  A  force  of  four 
hundred  sailors  and  marines  was  organized  to  take  it 
by  assault.  The  night  was  fixed,  and  the  boats  moved 
to  the  attack.  The  enemy  were  fully  prepared  to 
meet  it.  The  attempt  was  a  failure.  A  number 
landed,  some  scaled  the  walls,  but  all  were  killed  or 
captured.  Our  loss  was  one  hundred  and  fifty.  The 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        225 

details  for  fatigue  and  picket  were  regular.  In  turn  a 
company  would  be  sent  on  board  a  gunboat  in  the  in 
let.  Then  the  regiment  would  be  ordered  into  the 
trenches  before  Wagner  for  provision  against  attack. 
Again  a  company  at  the  Beacon  House,  a  detail  at 
Fort  Gregg,  and  one  to  assist  in  the  construction  of 
Battery  Chat-field,  east  of  Fort  Gregg.  Now  a  large 
number  would  be  sent  on  Black  island  as  a  fatigue 
party.  Then,  at  times,  part  of  the  regiment  would  be 
ordered  into  Wagner,  and  suffer  the  chills  of  night  or 
the  assaults  of  pestiferous  fleas  within  the  bomb  proofs 
of  that  famous  fort.  The  rebuilding  of  Fort  Wagner 
and  Battery  Gregg,  the  erection  of  Battery  Chatfield 
and  the  planting  later  of  heavy  mortars,  all  required 
large  details,  which  told  heavily  upon  the  men.  The 
picketing  of  Cummings'  Point,  Gregg  and  Wagner 
was  a  regular  duty,  and  often,  when  the  enemy  was  in 
a  fit  for  shelling,  it  was  sadly  dangerous.  Fatigue 
parties  during  the  day  were  much  exposed  and  lost 
numbers  of  men  in  killed  and  wounded.  For  several 
weeks  after  the  fall  of  Wagner  the  enemy  kept  up  a 
lively  fire  on  our  working  parties,  and  men  were  killed 
and  wounded  daily  and  nightly.  Nevertheless  they 
worked  cheerfully  and  without  complaint.  At  times 
the  accuracy  of  the  enemy's  fire  was  wonderful,  when 
we  consider  the  distance.  In  one  period  of  twenty- 
four  hours,  out  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  shells 
fired  at  Wagner,  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  burst 
inside  the  fort,  killing  and  wounding  sixteen  men. 

Another    clay  one   hundred    and   fifty   shells    struck 
10* 


226        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

inside  the  same  work.  ]S"ow,  when  we  consider  that 
the  guns  which  fired  these  shells  were  at  a  distance  of 
about  two  miles,  and  the  area  into  which  they  were 
dropped,  less  than  an  acre,  the  shooting  was  remark 
able.  Gen.  Gillmore  had  just  issued,  in  general 
orders,  words  of  commendation  to  the  troops  for  their 
valor,  courage,  and  patient  labor  in  the  reduction  of 
Wagner  and  Gregg.  Subsequently  he  received  a  com 
mission  as  major  general,  which  was  made  the  oc 
casion  of  a  grand  review  on  the  beach  at  low  tide ;  a 
spot  unequal  ed  on  the  earth's  surface  for  military 
display.  The  regiment  had  been  paid  in  the  interim, 
and  friends  at  home  were  not  forgotten,  and  even  the 
sutler  in  some  instances  was  remembered.  The  sev 
eral  companies  of  the  regiment  were  saving  and  allow 
ing  the  value  of  their  just  rations  to  accumulate  in 
funds  for  blacking,  white  gloves,  and  other  necessaries 
found  to  be  needed  during  our  stay  on  the  island.  The 
weather  toward  the  last  of  October  and  from  that 
date  on  into  winter,  or  the  winter  months,  became  cool. 
Stoves  were  put  into  the  tents  of  officers,  and  not  a  few 
of  the  men  provided  the  luxury  in  addition  to  the  kit 
chen  fire.  Quartermaster  Sergeant  George  G.  Bar- 
num  was  indefatigable  in  providing  for  the  wants 
of  the  camp  in  wood,  and  the  distribution  of  quarter 
master  stores.  Fresh  bread  was  issued  daily  from  a 
bakery  near,  and  run  by  details  of  experienced  bakers 
found  in  the  regiment.  At  this  date  the  health  of  the 
regiment  was  good  and  in  a  prosperous  condition,  all 
things  considered. 


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One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        227 

October  31st.  The  regiment  mustered  for  pay. 
Land  batteries  and  navy  shelling  Suinter.  Through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  a  large 
number  of  recruits,  conscripts  and  substitutes  arrived 
in  camp,  and  were  assigned  to  the  several  companies 
as  their  number  demanded.  They  were  regularly 
drilled,  and  soon  became  unnoticed  as  recruits,  and 
took  the  duties  of  a  soldier  as  though  bred  to  the  work. 
Occasionally  a  company  would  be  sent  to  picket 
"Payne's  Dock,"  so  called  from  the  landing  of  Capt. 
Payne  at  that  spot,  when  out  scouting  near  the 
enemy's  lines.  This  duty  was  often  a  cold  and  dis 
agreeable  one,  when  the  nights  were  wet  and  chilly. 

Lieut.  Fred.  Sandrock,  of  the  boat  infantry,  generally 
accompanied  the  detail,  as  he,  with  boat  and  men, 
was  on  the  ground.  At  this  time  a  large  hospital 
tent  was  procured,  and  the  Chaplain  held  service  on 
Sabbath,  which  disturbed  the  usual  monotony  of  Sab 
bath  life.  Sunday  in  camp  is  a  day  of  cleaning,  inspec  - 
tions  and  reviews,  as  well  as  of  battles.  The  inspec 
tion  of  the  quarters  of  the  men,  their  clothing,  arms 
and  accoutrements,  all  helped  to  prove  that  golden 
truth,  that  cleanliness  is  next  to  godliness.  A  regi 
ment  to  be  efficient  must  be  in  health.  To  keep 
healthy  it  must  keep  clean,  and  it  will  not  be  done 
without  order,  and  its  persistent  enforcement. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

REGIMENT  STILL    ON  MORRIS  ISLAND. MAJOR   D.    D.   NASH 

RETURNED      TO      REGIMENT.  BATTERIES      OPEN      ON 

CHARLESTON. EXECUTION  OF  A  DESERTER. WORDS 

ABOUT    NEGRO    TROOPS. THEIR    MORALE    AND    MERIT 

AS  SOLDIERS. DESERTERS  FROM  CHARLESTON. DE 
PARTURE  OF  COL.  DANDY  AND  RECRUITING  PARTY  FOR 

BUFFALO. RE-ENLISTED  VETERANS  ARRIVED. THEIR 

RECEPTION    BY   THE    LADIES    OF    THE    GREAT    CENTRAL 
FAIR,  MAYOR,  MILITARY  AND  CITIZENS. 

While  stationed  on  Morris  island,  the  regiment  was 
regularly  paid,  and  what  was  not  spent  for  real  needs, 
and  in  some  instances  for  luxuries,  was  sent  to  friends 
and  families  at  home.  At  this  time  Lieut.  C.  B.  Adri- 
ance  brought  from  Hilton  Head  a  large  amount,  or 
number  of  boxes,  of  express  matter,  containing  remem 
brances  from  friends  in  the  way  of  clothing,  and  dainties, 
such  as  was  not  common  in  camp  life. 

November  10th.  Maj.  D.  D.  Nash  returned  from 
the  North,  having  been  absent  since  the  charge  on 
Wagner,  where  he  received  a  severe  wound  in  the 
thigh,  from  which  he  had  suffered  much  and  long. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        229 

Lieut.  Carlos  H.  Richmond  was  discharged  the  ser 
vice,  and  left  for  home. 

November  closed  with  the  usual  routine.  A  portion 
of  the  regiment  was  sent  nightly,  with  a  complement 
of  officers,  to  the  Beacon  House,  Fort  Wagner,  now 
Fort  Strong,  Battery  Chatfield,  Gregg,  and  for  picket 
duty  between  Strong  and  Gregg. 

December  opened  with  high  chilly  winds.  The 
sand  drifted  like  snow.  The  tide  was  ploughing  its 
way  close  up  to  the  tents  of  regiments  near  the  line  of 
the  highest  tide.  A  few  were  obliged  to  remove  camp. 
The  passage  from  camp  to  the  head  of  the  island  was 
difficult,  as  the  tide  in  some  places  swept  across  into 
the  swamp.  The  camp  of  the  "  Provost  Guard,"  near 
the  beach,  was  removed  to  higher  ground.  The  nights 
were  very  chilly,  hence  duty  at  the  front  without 
fire  was  intensely  uncomfortable  to  the  men. 

Our  batteries  were  trained  on  the  city  from  Strong, 
Chatfield  and  Gregg,  and  admonitory  signals  were 
sent  into  Charleston  to  keep  the  citizens  informed  of 
our  proximity  and  vigilance,  to  let  no  occasion  pass 
that  we  still  held  in  remembrance  the  shelling  of 
Maj.  Anderson  and  his  little  band  of  eighty  men 
within  the  walls  of  Sumter. 

December  17th,  a  private  of  the  Third  New  Hamp 
shire  was  shot  for  desertion.  He  had  joined  the  regi 
ment  as  a  drafted  recruit.  He  attempted  to  cross  the 
marsh  and  give  himself  up  to  the  rebels.  He  failed, 
and  came  into  our  lines  as  a  deserter  from  the  enemy, 
and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  late  recruits.  He 


230        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.   Volunteers. 

was  tried,  and  shot  in  presence  of  all  the  troops  on 
the  island.  The  sight  was  painful  at  a  distance,  but 
to  render  the  example  effective  the  whole  command 
was  required  to  march,  as  in  review,  by  the  lifeless 
and  bleeding  body  of  that  victim  of  military  law. 

We  should  have  mentioned  that  on  the  6th  of  De 
cember,  the  monitor  Weehawken  foundered  in  a  gale 
at  her  anchorage  off  Morris  Island,  carrying  down  to  a 
watery  grave  twenty  officers  and  seamen.  The  cause 
was  never  satisfactorily  known. 

A  few  words  relative  to  negro  troops.  We  have 
said  that  they  took  to  soldiering  naturally.  The 
history  of  the  Fifty-fourth  Massachusetts  is  well 
known.  They  were  encamped  a  few  rods  from  the 
left  flank  of  the  One  Hundredth.  Their  dress  pa 
rades  were  models  of  perfection.  Their  sergeant  ma 
jor  was  the  son  of  Frederick  Douglass,  who  was  subse 
quently  commissioned  in  a  colored  Rhode  Island  bat 
tery.  Their  company  cooks  exceeded  ours,  of  course, 
in  all  the  arts  and  cleanliness  of  culinary  operations. 
Two  more  regiments  arrived  earlier  in  the  campaign 
from  the  North,  from  Massachusetts  and  North  Caro 
lina,  the  former  commanded  by  a  brother  of  Henry 
Ward  Beecher.  Two  regiments,  commanded  respec 
tively  by  Cols.  Higginson  and  Montgomery,  composed 
of  negro  troops,  were  also  encamped  near  our  quarters. 
Their  jolly  songs  and  cheerful  manners,  as  we  passed 
them  to  the  front  on  duty  while  they  were  returning, 
had  the  effect  of  completely  disarming  the  men  from 
that  bitterness,  and  even  hate,  they  had  entertained 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        231 

toward  them.  They  helped,  largely,  to  perform  the 
heavy  work  with  cheerful  hearts,  evincing  by  their 
manner  toward  us,  the  white  troops,  that  they  had 
come  to  lighten  our  labors,  and  should  do  it  in  the 
spirit  of  willingness  and  content.  A  grand  review 
was  had  at  this  time,  and  then  it  was  seen  by  veterans 
what  the  negro  troops  could  do  in  the  way  of  marching. 
Natural  musicians,  their  time  was  usually  correct,  and 
hence  their  marching  could  not  be  surpassed,  and  only 
in  few  instances  equaled. 

Deserters  kept  us  informed,  from  time  to  time,  of 
the  injury  our  shells  did  the  city.  Everybody  who 
could  get  away  went  into  the  country,  and  only  the 
poorer  classes  remained  in  town.  They  removed  to 
the  upper  portion  to  avoid  our  shells,  leaving  that 
part  below  John  and  Calhoun  streets  nearly  depopu 
lated.  A  number  of  public  and  private  buildings 
were  destroyed  and  others  damaged.  The  Mills  House 
had  several  shells  through  it.  The  debris  from  the 
ruined  buildings  obstructed  the  streets,  and  by  spring 
this  beautiful  city  wore  a  very  dilapidated  appearance. 
It  suffered  terribly  for  the  political  crime  of  its  inhab 
itants.  The  poor  people  who  remained  must  have  had 
a  very  hard  winter  of  it.  With  bacon  at  four  dollars 
per  pound,  corn  eighteen  to  twenty  dollars  per  bushel, 
and  flour  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  a  barrel,  all 
prime  necessaries  of  life,  it  is  a  wonder  that  they  lived 
at  all. 

Dec.  20th.     Col.  G.  B.  Dandy,  Capt.  Topping,  and 
Lieuts.   Stowits,  Sandrock  and  Yogdes,  with  the  re- 


232        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

quisite  sergeants,  corporals  and  privates,  were  sent 
North  to  Buffalo,  on  recruiting  service  for  the  regi 
ment.  The  party  left  on  the  steamer  Fulton  from 
Hilton  Head  and  soon  began  to  experience  the  change 
in  climate  as  they  neared  New  York  city  and  assem 
bled  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  the  place  of  their  military 
labor  for  the  rest  of  the  winter  and  a  portion  of  the 
coming  spring.  The  Board  of  Trade  added  a  small 
fee  to  recruiting  agents,  which,  in  addition  to  the  large 
bounties  paid,  secured  a  fair  number  of  recruits  to  the 
regiment,  as  well  as  amply  affording  opportunities  for 
bounty  brokers,  so  willing  to  serve  the  government 
when  self  was  enriched,  to  make  large  sums  of  money, 
which  was  well  known  to  officers  and  men  engaged  in 
the  service  of  recruiting.  With  the  leeches  at  the 
national  treasury,  and  the  leeches  at  the  pockets  of 
the  producers  of  the  country,  it  is  wonderful  that  the 
life  blood  of  the  nation  was  not  entirely  exhausted, 
and  its  energies  so  crippled  that  years  of  prosperity 
wrould  be  required  to  heal  the  wrounds  of  avarice  and 
national  recklessness. 

In  the  absence  of  Col.  Dandy,  the  command  of  the 
regiment  was  in  the  hands  of  Maj.  Nash,  and,  there 
being  no  lieutenant  colonel,  as  Capt.  L.  S.  Payne,  who 
was  promoted  to  that  position  was  a  prisoner  in  the 
hands  of  the  rebels,  his  duties  wrere  responsible  and 
onerous. 

From  this  time  till  the  regiment  was  ordered  North, 
in  April,  its  duties  were  heavy  and  steady.  The  force 
on  the  island  had  been  decreased,  the  casualties  were 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        233 

few,  and  camp  life  was  oppressively  monotonous.  Pro 
visions  were  made  for  re-enlistment  into  what  was 
termed  the  "  veteran  corps,"  with  furloughs  to  such  as 
complied  with  the  order.  Lieut.  C.  B.  Adriance  was 
appointed  recruiting  officer,  and  at  once  entered  upon 
the  discharge  of  his  duties.  Lieut.  E.  Spooner  was 
dismissed  the  service,  and  the  disability  was  subse 
quently  removed,  and  he  was  restored  to  the  standing 
of  other  discharged  officers. 

January  10th,  1864.  At  dress  parade  the  regiment 
formed  in  hollow  square,  and  a  magnificent  stand  of 
colors  was  received  by  the  regiment  at  the  hands  of 
Chaplain  J.  B.  Linn,  as  the  munificent  gift  of  the  Board 
of  Trade  of  Buffalo.  They  were  admired  by  all,  and 
objects  of  interest  to  officers  and  men  of  neighboring 
camps.  Maj.  ^"ash  responded  in  neat,  appropriate  and 
fitting  terms  to  the  remarks  of  the  Chaplain,  and  the 
occasion  was  one  of  pleasure  and  gratification.  The 
brigade  band  was  in  attendance,  and  the  time  was  en 
joyed  as  though  at  home  and  not  on  a  sandy  and  deso 
late  isle. 

Kear  the  close  of  January,  Lieut.  Adriance  had  re- 
enlisted  about  fifty  men  as  veterans,  completed  the 
rolls  and  forwarded  them  to  headquarters.  Capt. 
Evert  and  Lieut.  Adriance  left  camp  with  fifty-one 
veteran  volunteers  on  furlough,  February  23d,  for  Hil 
ton  Head,  and  arrived  in  Buffalo  by  the  way  of  Fort 
ress  Monroe  and  Kew  York  city,  March  2d,  1864. 

The  veterans  were  received  at  the  depot  and  es 
corted  to  St.  James  Hall  by  Miller's  Brass  Band,  offi- 


234        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

cers  of  the  Sixty-fifth  and  Seventy-fourth  Kegiments  in 
two  platoons.  The  Board  of  Trade,  headed  by  Mayor 
Fargo  and  Col.  Dandy,  were  followed  by  the  vete 
rans  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment.  The  ladies  of 
the  Great  Central  Fair,  being  held  at  the  Hall,  did  the 
honors  at  the  reception.  The  assemblage  was  called 
to  order  by  his  Honor,  Mayor  Fargo,  who  introduced 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Heacock,  who  welcomed  the  veterans  in 
an  appropriate  and  eloquent  speech.  The  Doctor  re 
viewed  the  honored  career  of  the  regiment,  dwelt 
upon  their  glorious  record,  and  concluded  by  saying 
"  That  the  hearts  and  homes  of  this  city  are  open  to 
you ;  its  beauty,  its  pride  and  its  wealth  come  out  to 
greet  and  welcome  you." 

The  speech  was  listened  to  with  the  most  respectful 
attention.  At  its  conclusion  the  soldiers  and  officers, 
together  with  a  number  of  those  in  attendance,  sat 
down  at  the  tables,  while  the  ladies  and  gentlemen 
connected  with  the  fair  acted  as  waiters,  and  minis 
tered  to  the  wants  of  the  visitors.  Miller's  Band,  the 
while,  lent  additional  attractiveness  to  the  scene  by 
playing  a  number  of  beautiful  airs.  At  the  conclu 
sion  of  the  repast,  Dr.  Heacock,  on  behalf  of  Col . 
Dandy,  thanked  the  ladies  for  the  hospitable  manner 
in  which  the  veterans  of  the  One  Hundredth  had  been 
received  and  entertained.  Mrs.  Fargo,  the  president 
of  the  fair,  was  especially  remembered,  and  three 
lusty  cheers  were  given  for  that  lady.  The  Buffalo 
Board  of  Trade,  the  Ladies  of  Buffalo,  Col.  Dandy  and 
others  were  subsequently  cheered.  As  an  ending  to 


One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers.        235 

the  entertainment,  Lieut.  G.  H.  Stowits  presented  two 
beautiful  swords,  the  gift  of  the  veterans,  to  Capt. 
Leopold  Evert  and  First  Lieut.  Cornelius  B.  Adriance, 
the  officers  in  charge,  and  with  whom  the  veterans  had 
made  the  journey  from  Hilton  Head  to  Buffalo. 
Lieut.  Stowits  made  a  few  pertinent  remarks  to  the 
officers,  and  subsequently  on  their  behalf  returned 
thanks  to  the  donors. 

The  veterans  were  free  for  a  month,  spent  their  time 
and  money,  and  with  reluctance  turned  their  backs 
upon  their  homes,  and  headed  for  the  South  and  the 
camp  of  the  regiment. 


236        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXX1IL 

THE  SPUING  CAMPAIGN  OF  1864.  — TRANSFER  OF  THE  ONE 
HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT  FROM  MORRIS  ISLAND  TO  GLOU 
CESTER  POINT. THE  RELATION  OF  SUCCESSIVE  EVENTS 

IN  THE  HISTORY  OF  SUMTER  TILL  ITS  RESTORATION  BY 

THE     GOVERNMENT. THE    STATE    AND    CONDITION    OF 

CHARLESTON. THE     QUENCHING     OF     FIRES     BY    OUR 

SOLDIERY. THE  RETREAT  OF  GEN.  HARDEE's  ARMY. 

The  spring,  with  new  plans  and  movements,  wras 
opening.  Gen.  Grant  had  sole  control  of  all  combi 
nations  of  army  affairs.  He  held  the  reins  of  govern 
ment  in  all  departments.  Subordinates  were  waiting 
the  order  from  his  working  brain. 

On  Morris  island  the  troops  managed  to  pass  the 
winter  in  comparative  comfort.  Rations  were  abun 
dant  and  good,  and  there  was  a  plentiful  supply  of 
clothing.  The  weather  was  not  unpleasant,  except 
when  the  high  east  winds  prevailed.  During  the 
equinoctial  storm  of  two  weeks,  the  sea  encroached 
upon  the  island  twenty  feet. 

Gen.  Gillmore  had  been  ordered  in  April  to  rein 
force  the  army  of  the  James  under  Butler,  to  operate 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        237 

against  Richmond.  The  One  Hundredth  Regiment 
turned  its  back  upon  its  sandy  camp,  which  for  nearly 
nine  months  had  been  its  home,  through  the  storms  of 
shot  and  shell,  the  terrors  of  disease,  the  weighty  labors 
of  fatigue,  in  trench  and  fort,  and  the  daily  longings 
for  home,  friends  and  the  comforts  of  social  life.  As 
they  left  the  desert  shores  of  that  sea  and  swamp-girt 
isle  relief  was  apparent,  but  then  came  that  oft-repeated 
wonder,  "What's  the  order?"  "Where  ordered?" 
The  beach  at  Gloucester  Point  greeted  them,  from 
which  they  had  sailed  sixteen  months  before.  The 
large  number  of  troops  there  assembled  was  proof  that 
an  important  movement  was  in  progress. 

Since,  in  the  course  of  this  narration,  we  have  fol 
lowed  the  fate  of  Sumter,  from  its  first  suffering 
through  Maj.  Anderson  and  his  little  band  of  brave 
men,  we  wrill  briefly  relate  its  history  of  restoration  to 
the  "  old  flag  "  and  the  Union. 

From  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the  batteries  of 
Wagner,  Chatfield  and  Gregg,  until  the  evacuation  of 
Charleston  by  the  flank  and  rear  movements  of  Sher 
man's  army,  they  continued  to  throw  at  intervals 
thirty  and  one-hundred-pound  shells  into  the  city. 
One  thirty-pounder  Parrott,  at  an  elevation  of  forty- 
two  degrees,  had  thrown  four  thousand  six  hundred 
and  fifteen  shells  into  the  town,  and  burst  from  the 
constant  and  continuous  strain. 

During  the  operations  before  Charleston,  twenty- 
three  guns  of  the  larger  calibre  had  exploded.  One 
three-hundred-pounder,  five  two-hundred-pounders, 


238        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

and  seventeen  one-hundred-pounders.  The  entire 
lower  part  of  the  city  was  substantially  destroyed. 

What  witli  the  great  fire  of  1861,  and  the  ruins  in 
range  of  our  shells,  the  lower  portion  of  Charleston 
was  inhabited  only  by  the  winged  tribes,  safely  perched 
upon  its  crumbling  debris,  while  the  rank  gr^ss  in  the 
streets,  as  seen  by  our  entering  soldiery,  filled  all 
hearts  with  the  loneliness  arid  desolation  of  the  scene. 

From  the  time  of  the  completion  of  our  batteries 
till  the  close  of  the  rebellion,  but  little  of  interest 
transpired  before  Charleston.  At  intervals  the  enemy 
would  open  his  guns  and  bombard  our  works  for 
hours,  only  to  be  silenced  for  his  temerity.  We 
have  seen  the  miserable  apology  of  a  flag  staff,  stick 
ing  in  the  brick  and  mortar  of  Sumter's  walls,  shot 
down  three  times  in  a  day  by  a  three-hundred-pounder 
Parrott  gun  from  Battery  Chatfield  on  Cummings' 
Point, 

Expeditions  were  sent  to  "  Bull's  Bay,"  on  James 
island,  and  up  Stono  river,  to  keep  the  enemy  informed 
of  our  activity  and  strength.  Troops  were  changed 
from  the  island,  as  their  sanitary  condition  demanded, 
and  all  was  done  that  could  be  done  to  make  their 
condition  livable,  and  keep  them  in  heart  to  endure 
fatigue  and  exposure  incident  to  duty  on  that  sandy 
isle. 

The  Sanitary  and  Christian  commissions,  their  man 
agers  and  supporters,  received  the  prayers  of  every  true 
soldier  who  fought  and  suffered  on  the  sand  hills  of 
Morris  island.  And  we  would  not  forget  that  band 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        239 

of  noble  women  in  our  own  city,  led  by  Mrs.  Horatio 
Seymour,  Jr.,  who  was  a  power  behind  barricades  of 
woolen  and  cotton  goods,  and  whose  labors  for  the  sol 
dier  will  live  in  our  hearts  while  life  lasts ;  and  our 
blessings  will  follow  those  hearts  that  worked,  felt  and 
prayed  for  the  cause  and  the  welfare  of  the  nation's 
preservers.  Through  Chaplain  Linn  the  donations  from 
Mrs.  Seymour  found  their  way  to  the  regiment,  and  in 
hospital  the  suffering  soldier  was  comforted  and  raised 
to  health  through  means  furnished  by  these  patriotic 
women.  The  cargoes  of  ice,  the  loads  of  delicacies 
and  substantial  nutritive  food  for  the  sick  and  lan 
guishing,  will  ever  be  remembered  by  us  who  felt  the 
wants  and  cared  for  the  welfare  of  those  under  our 
commands.  Volumes  could  be  written  of  incidents, 
happening  in  camp,  on  duty  in  the  trench,  or  in  boats 
along  the  creeks  through  the  marsh  during  those  long 
winter  nights,  with  nought  but  the  stars  and  one's 
thoughts  to  cheer,  lightened  with  the  fiery  track  of 
exploding  shells  on  their  mission  of  death.  The  morn 
ing  parade,  from  4  A.  M.  till  sunrise,  on  the  island,  as 
a  precaution  against  surprise,  and  all  regular  duties 
and  exposures  were  endured  with  fortitude  and  real 
heroism  for  the  cause  and  perpetuity  of  government. 
An  end  of  daily  and  nightly  duty  mingled  with  the 
fear  of  exploding  shells  was  at  hand. 

Sherman  had  marched  to  the  sea.  He  had  made 
his  triumphal  entry  into  Savannah,  and  soon  would 
thunder  at  the  rear  gates  of  Charleston.  Columbia 
had  fallen,  which  was  the  signal  for  Hardee  to  evacu- 


240        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

ate  Charleston.  At  an  early  hour,  February  17th, 
1865,  Hardee,  after  destroying  all  property  that  might 
aid  us  in  our  operations,  left  by  the  only  railway  out 
of  the  city  open  for  use,  to  join  Beauregard  and  Cheat- 
ham  in  their  union  with  Johnson,  to  check,  if  possible, 
the  victorious  legions  of  Sherman.  The  torch  had 
been  applied  by  military  order,  and  four  blocks  of 
buildings  were  added  to  the  large  area  of  ruins. 

At  9  o'clock,  February  18th,  Maj.  A.  J.  Hennessey 
raised  the  stars  and  stripes  over  Sumter,  where  the  old 
flag  had  been  dishonored  and  hauled  down  nearly  four 
years  before.  Flags  were  raised  over  Moultrie,  Ripley 
and  Pinckney,  and  Charleston  was  entered  at  10  o'clock, 
and  its  surrender  received  from  the  hands  of  Maj. 
Macbeth,  who  gladly  accomplished  it,  that  speedy  as 
sistance  might  be  rendered  to  save  what  remained  of 
that  shattered,  destroyed  and  suffering  city.  Troops 
were  hurried  over  from  Morris  island,  and  the  soldiery, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  destroy  within  the  range  of  shot 
and  shell,  now  worked  as  heartily  and  cheerily  to 
save, — the  legitimate  culture  of  economy  and  civiliza 
tion. 

The  gallant  Stewart  L.  Woodford,  since  lieutenant 
governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  was  appointed 
military  governor  of  Charleston.  The  inhabitants 
looked  for  a  spirit  of  vengeance  at  the  hands  of  their 
conquerors,  and  were  astonished  to  find  instead,  the 
announcement  in  Col.  Woodford's  first  order  "  invit 
ing  the  people  to  open  their  schools  and  churches,  re 
suming,  as  far  as  possible,  the  avocations  of  peace." 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        241 

The  order  closed  with  these  emphatic  words :  "  Xo 
disloyal  act  or  utterance  will  be  tolerated.  The  na 
tional  flag  must  be  honored  and  the  national  laws 
obeyed." 

When  intelligence  reached  Washington  of  the  evac 
uation  of  Sumter,  the  President  appointed  the  anni 
versary  of  the  fall  of  Sumter  as  the  day  when  the  old 
nag  should  be  raised  by  Maj.,  now  Gen.,  Anderson. 
Preliminaries  were  arranged.  A  large  number  of  citi 
zens  went  from  the  harbor  of  New  York  in  the  steamer 
Oceanus  to  assist  in  the  ceremonies.  -Col.  Woodford 
had  charge  of  the  exercises  at  the  fort.  When  the  mul 
titude  were  assembled  around  the  flagstaff,  "  Victory  at 
Last "  was  sung,  followed  by  "  Kally  Round  the  Flag." 
The  Chaplain  who  officiated  at  the  raising  of  the  flag, 
December  27th,  1860,  again  pronounced  a  blessing  on 
the  ensign  of  our  country's  redemption.  Gen.  Town- 
send,  Assistant  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army  of  the 
United  States,  read  Maj.  Anderson's  dispatch  of  April 
18th,  1861,  announcing  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter.  This 
was  followed  by  the  appearance  of  the  faithful  Sergeant 
Hart,  the  one-man  reinforcement  that  Mrs.  Anderson 
took  to  Sumter  in  the  dark  days  of  our  nation's  strug 
gle,  with  a  new  "mail  ~bag"  containing  the  same 
"Dear  Old  Flag"  that  greeted  the  vision  of  that 
brave  and  loyal  woman  on  her  mission  of  aid  to  her 
patriotic  husband.  It  was  attached  to  the  halliards, 
when  Gen.  Anderson,  after  a  brief  and  touching  ad 
dress,  hoisted  it  to  the  peak  of  the  flagstaff  amid  loud 
cheers  and  the  singing  of  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner." 


242         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

Six  guns  on  the  fort  opened  their  loud  voices,  and 
were  responded  to  by  the  guns  from  all  the  batteries 
around  which  took  part  in  the  bombardment  of  the 
fort  in  1861.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  the  chosen  ora 
tor,  pronounced  an  eloquent  address.  A  benediction 
closed  the  ceremonies,  and  Fort  Sumter  was  repos 
sessed  by  the  government. 

The  curtain  that  had  been  lifted  for  four  long  years 
had  fallen.  Charleston  and  citizens  had  fearfully  paid 
in  lives  and  property  for  the  folly  of  secession.  The 
detonating  music  of  heavy  ordnance  had  ceased.  The 
"  last  ditch  "  had  been  reached  by  the  stragglers  of  a 
once  boasting  and  defiant  soldiery,  in  the  blowing  up 
by  accident  of  the  depot  and  killing  two  hundred  hu 
man  beings,  a  sad  wail  in  the  wake  of  Gen.  Hardee's 
retreating  army.  In  a  night  preceding  a  morn  of 
oppressive  stillness,  the  tragic  events  before  Charleston 
had  an  end.  No  more  could  be  heard  the  whizzing, 
screeching  shell  of  thirty,  one-hundred,  two-hundred 
and  three-hundred-pounder  Parrott  guns  from  national 
batteries  on  Morris  island.  Sorrow,  gloom  and  death 
hovered  over  that  rebellious  city.  Most  of  her  chival- 
ric  sons  had  sacrificed  their  lives  in  war,  while  others 
were  strangers  in  the  land  of  their  birth.  No  more 
will  those  barren,  desolate,  sandy  isles,  echo  to  the  tread 
daily  and  nightly,  it  is  hoped,  of  an  army  decreed  to 
save  and  perpetuate  this  government.  Since  the 
drama  has  closed  let  it  be  closed  forever. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        243 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

CLOSING   OF  THE   RECRUITING   OFFICE   AT   BUFFALO. THE 

REGIMENT  OBDERED  FROM  MORRIS  ISLAND  TO  GLOU 
CESTER  POINT. PREPARATIONS  FOR  A  SUMMER  CAM 
PAIGN.  EMBARKED  ON  TRANSPORTS. LANDING  AT 

BERMUDA    HUNDRED. GEN.  BUTLER    IN    COMMAND. 

MARCHED  TO  THE  PETERSBURG  AND  RICHMOND  RAIL 
ROAD.  FOUGHT  THE  ENEMY,  TORE  UP  THE  RAILROAD 

AND  DESTROYED  THE  TELEGRAPH. 

The  recruiting  office  at  Buffalo  was  closed,  and  Col. 
Dandy,  with  his  detail,  ordered  to  his  regiment.  On 
arriving  at  New  York  City  the  detachment  awaited 
further  orders.  After  some  delay  it  was  learned  that 
the  regiment  was  at  Gloucester  Point,  Virginia,  to 
which  we  hastened  by  the  way  of  Baltimore  and  Fort 
ress  Monroe. 

Capt.  M.  H.  Topping  left  us  at  New  York  City, 
having  resigned,  April  26th,  1864.  He  was  a  capable, 
brave  and  reliable  officer. 

February  27th,  1864.  Second  Lieiits.  Myron  P. 
Pierson  and  Wayne  Yogdes  were  promoted  to  be  first 
lieutenants.  Serg.  Azor  Hilton  Hoyt  to  be  second 
lieutenant. 


244        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

April  14th.  Benjamin  F.  Hughson  was  promoted  to 
be  first  lieutenant,  and  George  G.  Barnum  to  be 
second  lieutenant,  First  Lieut.  William  Richardson  to 
be  captain,  and  Charles  E.  Walbridge  to  be  captain 
and  assistant  quartermaster  of  volunteers. 

As  trained  men  strip  for  a  fight,  so  the  divisions  at 
Gloucester  Point  were  stripped  of  all  extra  baggage 
and  clothing,  and  supplied  with  what  would  be  neces 
sary  for  march,  bivouac  and  battle.  All  things  tended 
toward  a  spirited  campaign  in  appearance  and  activity. 
In  the  line  of  baggage,  officers  were  limited  to  a 
satchel,  or  small  valise.  All  surplus  baggage,  com 
pany  books  and  desks  were  put  on  transport  and  sunk 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  which  has  deprived  us  of  many  valu 
able  records  which  could  have  been  used  as  needed  ad 
ditions  of  facts  to  interest  the  friends  in  the  career  of 
a  regiment  so  constantly  engaged  in  active  service. 

While  lying  at  the  point  whole  regiments  were  sent 
on  picket.  The  lot,  as  was  usually  the  case,  fell  to  the 
One  Hundredth  Regiment  for  three  days  in  succession. 
Shelter  tents  had  been  provided.  We  bivouacked  for 
the  time  on  the  picket  line  under  the  command  of  Maj. 
Nash,  who  had  been  relieved  of  the  charge  of  the  regi 
ment  on  the  return  of  Col.  Dandy  from  Buffalo. 
Well  and  faithfully  had  he  discharged  the  duties  of 
commander  of  the  regiment  during  its  stay  on  Morris 
island,  in  the  absence  of  the  Colonel,  and  now  with 
officers  and  men  was  on  duty  at  the  front. 

Quartermasters  were  busily  at  work  issuing  clothing 
and  shoes  to  the  men,  who  were  obliged,  by  order, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        245 

to  have  two  pairs  of  shoes,  which  was  evidence  of  not 
a  little  marching.  At  this  time  it  is  worthy  of  men 
tion,  that  one  of  the  severest  storms  of  rain,  thunder 
and  lightning,  accompanied  with  a  high  wind,  swept 
over  the  "  Point,"  which,  had  it  been  in  winter,  would 
have  been  unendurable.  It  was  termed  an  awful 
night,  and  thousands  of  soldiers  who  suffered  it  will 
ever  remember  it.  It  differed  from  the  night  at  Wil- 
liamsburg  in  that  it  was  not  cold.  Gen.  Butler  was 
in  command  of  the  expedition,  and  he  brought  to  bear 
that  wonderful  faculty  of  his,  in  the  prosecution  of  any 
work,  energy  and  its  elements  of  skill  and  ability  to 
forward  means  to  ends.  A  grand  review  was  held,  at 
which  the  soldiery  appeared  to  good  advantage.  It  was 
the  opening  of  summer  in  the  South,  and  nature  was 
robed  in  green.  To  the  soldier  an  uncertain  future 
was  visible.  The  troops  were  ready.  The  transports 
were  at  hand.  The  movement  began,  and  soon  all 
were  on  board,  not  knowing  whether,  up  or  down  York 
river.  The  boats  were  headed  up  the  stream. 

Officers  and  men  were  busily  engaged  in  writing 
letters  to  friends  at  home,  all  feeling  the  uncertainty  of 
coming  events.  !Night  closed  upon  us,  and  the  next 
morning,  May  5th,  found  us  at  Fortress  Monroe  move- 
ing  up  James  river.  Here,  for  the  first  time,  we  had 
an  opportunity  of  seeing  that  promptness  and  energy 
so  characteristic  of  Gen.  Butler.  As  we  reached  the 
fortress  the  captain  of  the  transport  stopped  engines, 
launched  a  small  boat  and  was  proceeding  to  go  ashore, 
when  Gen.  Butler  made  enquiry  from  the  pilot  house 


24:6        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

of  his  flag  steamer,  of  the  whereabouts  of  the  captain  ; 
when  informed,  he  crossed  the  bow  of  the  captain's 
boat  and  ordered  him  to  the  steamer,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  we  were  sailing  up  the  James,  a  day  as  bright, 
shining  and  lovely,  as  was  ever  reflected  from  that 
broad  and  classic  stream. 

At  early  morn  on  the  6th  of  May,  amid  a  large  fleet 
of  transports  crowded  with  troops,  we  were  landed  at 
Bermuda  Hundred,  above  the  mouth  of  the  Appo- 
mattox  river  How  vivid  is  the  recollection  of  the  sol 
dier  of  that  warm  May  morning.  The  lightening  of 
knapsacks,  of  shoes,  stockings,  shirts,  coats  and  blank 
ets,  so  that  they  covered  and  carpeted  the  way.  Such 
is  the  instinct  of  an  "  old  soldier"  that  he  will  suffer 
physical  discomfort,  rather  than  bear  the  weight  of  an 
ounce  more  than  necessary  to  his  peace  of  mind  and 
bodily  comfort. 

The  weather  was  extremely  warm,  and  the  soldier's 
life  on  Morris  Island  had  been  of  that  character  that 
knapsacks  were  scarcely  ever  carried,  and  long  marches 
were  a  myth,  as  the  limits  of  the  island  would  not  war 
rant  it.  That  day's  march  along  a  narrow  unfre 
quented  road,  rough,  and  skirted  with  busli  and  thicket, 
with  a  scorching  sun,  proved  fatiguing  and  exhausting 
to  the  men. 

In  a  pleasant  wood,  the  brigade  commanded  by  Col. 
Plaisted,  of  the  Eleventh  Maine,  bivouacked  for  the 
night,  taking  the  necessary  precautions  of  slashing  and 
rifle-pits  for  temporary  defence.  The  Third  Brigade, 
Terry's  division,  was  booked  for  a  fight  at  once.  Camp 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        247 

duties  being  performed,  the  regiment,  with  the  remain 
der  of  the  brigade,  moved  into  an  open  field  and 
rested  on  their  arms,  waiting  the  decision  for  ad 
vance.  It  soon  commenced.  Along  an  old  road  in  a 
wood  the  troops  moved,  to  cut  if  possible,  the  Rich 
mond  and  Petersburg  railroad,  and  destroy  it  and  as 
much  of  the  telegraph  line  as  possible.  The  enemy,  it 
was  supposed,  was  in  a  good  defensive  position,  over 
looking  the  railroad,  and  to  be  successful  the  movement 
must  be  masked  and  at  the  same  time  one  of  celerity. 
Gen.  Brooks  had  command  of  the  expedition.  Col. 
Plaisted  ordered  Col.  Dandy  to  make  a  detour,  to  take 
advantage  of  a  wood  which  would  cover  the  movement 
of  the  column.  The  regiment  succeeded  in  getting 
through  the  wood  with  difficulty.  Co.  "  I,"  Capt. 
Brunck,  being  deployed  as  skirmishers  well  to  the 
right,  to  warn  us  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy  in 
that  direction.  Capt.  Brunck  marched  and  crossed 
the  railroad,  performed  his  duty  with  success,  and 
spoke  well  of  the  conduct  of  his  officers  and  men. 
While  waiting  the  movements  of  Co.  "  I,"  the  regi 
ment  was  exposed  on  the  south  side  of  the  wood  to  the 
direct  rays  of  the  sun,  which  proved  too  much  for 
many  of  the  men.  Soon,  however,  the  Colonel  moved 
to  the  Richmond  turnpike,  running  at  right  angles 
with  our  line  of  march.  In  front,  across  the  pike,  be 
tween  the  head  of  the  column  and  the  railroad,  the 
woods  were  too  thick  for  any  movement,  save  that  of 
skirmishers.  By  the  left  flank,  at  a  double-quick  and 
with  cheers  the  regiment  passed  along  the  pike,  through 


248        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

the  lines  of  other  regiments  firing  volleys  over  us  at 
the  enemy  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  railroad,  then 
across  an  open  field,  swampy  and  cut  up  with  creeks, 
under  a  brisk  fire  from  the  enemy,  we  carried  our 
colors  across  the  railroad,  were  rallied  on  a  height  over 
looking  the  rebel  position,  and  within  short  range  of 
their  rifle-pits.  The  brigade  of  Col.  Barton  in  the  mean 
time  advancing  on  our  left  and  rear  occupied  the  at 
tention  of  the  enemy.  A  portion  of  his  brigade,  the 
Forty-eighth  New  York,  overlapping  the  One  Hun 
dredth,  joined  us  on  the  height  and  planted  its  colors 
near  those  of  the  One  Hundredth.  We  maintained 
this  position  for  two  hours,  repelled  two  successive 
charges  of  the  enemy  on  our  position,  and  materially 
aiding  Col.  Barton's  brigade  on  our  left,  the  enemy 
pressing  upon  him,  being  checked  by  our  fire  on  his 
flank.  At  the  same  time  a  portion  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  and  the  remaining  two  regiments  of  the  brigade 
were  engaged  in  tearing  up  the  railroad  and  destroying 
the  telegraph  lines,  both  on  the  turnpike  and  railroad. 
This  having  been  accomplished  to  a  considerable  ex 
tent,  as  far  as  could  be  seen,  in  the  Richmond  direction, 
and  understanding  that  one  or  more  trestle  bridges  had 
been  destroyed,  the  brigade  withdrew  in  sufficient 
time  to  prevent  a  flanking  movement  of  the  enemy  on 
our  left,  caused  by  the  falling  back  of  Barton's  brigade, 
and  retook  the  position  from  which  the  movement  was 
made.  The  object  of  the  advance  was  successfully  ac 
complished  and,  as  far  as  could  be  judged,  great  damage 
was  inflicted  on  the  railroad  and  telegraph  lines. 


One  Hundredth  Jf.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        249 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE     FIGHT    AT     WALTHAL    JUNCTION. THE     REPORT     OF 

COL.    G.    B.    DANDY   AND  FAVORABLE  MENTION  OF  OFFI 
CERS    AND    MEN.  THE    ADROIT    MOVEMENTS  OF    GEN. 

BUTLER    ON     CITY    POINT    AND    BERMUDA     HUNDRED. 

THE    BUILDING    OF    WORKS    FROM    THE    JAMES    TO    THE 

APPOMATTOX.  THE     ADVANCE      ON     THE     12TH     AND 

13TII  OF  MAY. THE    TAKING   OF   ONE  OF   THE  OUTER 

FORTS     OF     THE     WORKS     AT     DRURY's     BLUFF.  THE 

CHARGE     OF     THE     ONE     HUNDREDTH     REGIMENT    AND 
THEIR  SUFFERINGS. 

The  fight  at  "Walthal  Junction  ended,  the  object 
having  been  gained.  The  troops  retraced  their  steps, 
left  the  railroad  and  turnpike,  and  formed  on  the  hill 
overlooking  the  valley  and  opposite  height,  occupied 
by  the  enemy.  The  rebels  kept  a  battery  of  field 
guns  actively  engaged  in  throwing  shell,  which  did 
little  or  no  damage.  It  was  in  this  fight  that  Lieut. 
C.  B.  Adriance  was  severely  wounded  in  the  knee, 
which  kept  him  from  duty  many  months,  and  who 
was  ultimately  discharged. 

Capt.  William   Eichardson   was   wounded    in   the 
11* 


250        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

breast,  but  not  severely.  The  day  had  been  oppres 
sively  warm,  and  to  this,  what  with  the  excitement 
of  battle,  the  si^ht  of  wounded  men,  and  wearied 

O  ' 

bodies,  the  regiment  was  easily  rocked  to  sleep  in 
bivouack  among  the  pines  after  the  events  of  the  day. 
Col.  G.  B.  Dandy,  in  his  official  report  of  that  fight, 
says :  "  Without  intending  to  be  invidious,  I  can 
not  refrain  from  mentioning  for  their  coolness  and 
gallantry  the  following  named  officers,  who  came 
during  the  action  under  my  immediate  observation : 
Maj.  D.  D.  Nash,  Capt.  Timothy  Lynch,  command 
ing  the  color  company,  Lieuts.  Stowits,  Adriance, 
Kichardson,  Sandrock,  Nichols,  Peck,  acting  adju 
tant  Pierson,  McMann,  Evans  and  Ho  well.  Doubt 
less  the  remaining  officers  of  the  regiment,  judging 
from  the  reports  which  reached  me,  performed  their 
duty  well  and  gallantly,  and  I  am  only  sorry  that  my 
duties,  confining  me  mostly  to  one  position,  prevented 
me  from  bearing  the  testimony  of  an  eyewitness  to 
their  bravery.  The  same  applied  to  the  enlisted  men 
who  came  under  my  eye.  They  stood  well  by  their 
colors.  Corporal  Ball,  of  Co.  "  G,"  acting  principal  mu 
sician,  distinguished  himself  by  taking  the  gun  of  a 
wounded  man,  and  went  into  action,  in  which  he  was 
wounded.  Also,  Spencer  Rose,  a  mere  lad  and  musi 
cian,  who  equipped  himself  with  the  arms  of  a  dead 
man,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  fight.  The  regi 
ment  did  itself  credit  on  the  occasion  of  the  engage 
ment.  Botli  the  Surgeon,  Dr.  Kittenger,  and  the 
Chaplain,  J.  B.  Linn,  followed  the  regiment  under  fire, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        251 

and  made  the  greatest  exertions  in  the  line  of  their  re 
spective  duties ;  the  first  in  caring  for  the  wounded, 
and  the  second  in  removing  them  from  the  field."  All 
movements,  whether  of  feint  or  battle,  has  a  tendency 
of  demoralization  among  soldiers.  The  anxieties  and 
fears,  the  knowledge  of  dead  and  wounded  comrades, 
all  help  to  unsteady  the  mind  and  unfit  the  man 
for  the  unnatural  work  of  destroying  his  fellow- 
man. 

The  7th  of  May  opened  a  campaign  which  had  had 
no  parallel  in  the  history  of  the  regiment,  for  variety 
of  movements,  losses  and  stirring  momentous  events. 
The  plan  of  Gen.  Grant,  entrusted  to  Gen.  Butler, 
contemplated  a  vigorous  movement  against  Richmond 
on  the  south  side  of  the  James  river.  The  Confeder 
ates  were  misled.  Gen.  Butler,  with  wonderful  celer 
ity,  had  sent  troops  to  West  Point  on  York  river, 
cavalry  by  the  way  of  Williamsburg,  forces  on  the 
north  and  south  of  the  James,  and  simultaneously 
landed  brigades  and  divisions  at  City  Point  and  Ber 
muda  Hundred;  while  Gen.  Kautz,  from  Suffolk, 
with  three  thousand  cavalry,  struck  the  Welden  road. 
Thus,  within  twenty-four  hours,  Butler,  on  the  evening 
of  the  5th  of  May,  had  transported  35,000  men,  their 
baggage,  supplies,  wagons  and  artillery,  within  fifteen 
miles  of  the  south  side  of  Richmond,  with  such  secrecy 
and  speed  that  the  enemy  were  wholly  unprepared  for 
his  coming,  which  enabled  Gen.  Butler  to  seize  the 
strongest  natural  position  on  the  continent.  Then 
followed,  as  related,  the  advance  on  Walthal  Junction, 


252        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

which  resulted,  as  stated,  with  a  loss  to  us  of  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty  men  to  the  whole  command. 

Another  advance  on  the  railway  was  made  on  the 
morning  of  May  9th,  by  a  force  composed  of  the  divis 
ions  of  Gens.  Terry,  Ames  and  Turner,  of  the  Tenth 
Corps,  and  of  Weitzel  and  Wistar  of  the  Eighteenth. 
Gen.  Gillmore  commanded  the  right  of  the  column 
and  Gen.  Smith  the  left.  They  destroyed  the  railway, 
right  and  left,  and  then  moved  within  three  miles  of 
Petersburg.  The  rebels  might  have  been  driven 
across  the  Appomattox,  into  Petersburg!!,  and  the 
town  possibly  captured,  had  not  a  false  rumor  reached 
Butler  that  Lee  was  vanquished,  and  in  full  retreat  on 
Richmond.  If  so  he  might  quickly  and  heavily  fall 
on  the  Army  of  the  James,  and  crush  it,  winch  Gen. 
Butler  would  avert  by  recalling  his  troops,  strengthen 
his  lines,  and  prepare  for  an  attack  on  Richmond. 

The  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  with  other  details, 
had  been  left  to  work  on  the  forts  and  intrenchments 
then  being  built  from  the  James  to  the  Appomattox. 
The  shovel  was  in  the  hands  of  the  men  nigjit  and  day 
until  the  morning  of  the  12th  of  May,  when  the  regi 
ment  moved  out  of  the  works,  and  took  up  the  line  of 
march  as  part  of  the  force,  moving  up  the  turnpike  in 
the  direction  of  Fort  Darling  and  Drury's  Bluff.  The 
day  was  cloudy  and  cool,  with  a  drizzling  rain,  which 
with  the  passage  of  troops  and  artillery  in  advance 
had  so  cut  up  the  roads  that  the  soldier  soon  drew  the 
contrast  between  the  dry  sand  of  Morris  island  and 
the  putty  red  clay  of  Virginia.  The  comparison  was 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers.        253 

unfavorable  to  the  sacred  soil  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
The  turnpike  was  soon  gained,  where  the  marching 
was  better  and  the  column  less  cramped  by  narrow 
roads.  The  regiment,  toward  the  close  of  the  after 
noon,  took  position  on  a  height  of  ground,  while  the 
advance  was  shelling  and  driving  the  enemy.  The 
day  closed  with  a  cold  rain.  The  troops  were  ordered 
a  short  distance  back  covered  by  the  brow  of  the  hill, 
and  without  shelter  passed  another  of  those  terrible 
nights  which  are  ever  remembered  by  the  soldier,  as  liv 
ing  deaths,  so  painful,  cheerless  and  awful.  Fires  were 
made  where  the  means  could  be  obtained,  but  as  a 
whole  it  was  a  night  of  suffering.  At  morn  the  sun 
showed  signs  of  a  coming  warmth,  and  the  brigade 
was  ordered  to  take  up  its  line  of  march.  As  we 
moved  along  the  narrow  road,  what  with  exercise  and 
the  rays  of  the  sun,  the  men  were  made  to  forget  in  a 
measure  the  realities  of  the  preceding  night. 

From  representations  made  by  a  friendly  negro, 
Col.  Plaisted,  in  command  of  brigade,  was  ordered  to 
make  a  detour  across  fields,  through  w^oods,  in  order 
to  fall  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy  along  a  road  lead 
ing  to  a  fort  in  the  outer  line  of  works  protecting  the 
position  at  Drury's  Bluff.  In  emerging  from  a  field 
at  the  edge  of  a  wood,  two  cavalry  videttes  were  ob 
served.  Gen.  K.  S.  Foster  and  aid,  riding  to  the  front, 
gave  chase.  Shots  were  fired,  and  one  was  captured. 
Col.  Dandy  was  ordered  to  throw  his  regiment  across 
the  road  leading  from  Richmond  with  its  right  and 
left  wings  deployed  as  skirmishers.  In  this  position 


254        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

we  remained  an  hour,  when  we  faced  about,  assem 
bled  on  the  road,  and  marched  with  celerity  in  the 
direction  of  heavy  firing  near  Fort  Darling.  Soon 
the  wounded  were  seen  all  along  the  way,  and  the 
sharp  ring  and  crack  of  the  rifle  told  to  us  that  the 
real  work  was  near  at  hand.  On  we  pushed  and  en 
tered  the  fort  mentioned,  from  which  the  rebels  had 
•just  been  driven,  as  their  dead  bodies  could  be  seen 
lying  along  the  parapet  unburied.  The  knowledge 
gained  from  the  negro  was  accurate,  the  fort  had  been 
charged  at  the  rear  and  right  flank,  forcing  the  ene 
my  to  retreat  when  resistance  to  our  forces  was  found 
to  be  useless. 

The  rebels,  from  the  hill,  were  seen  in  full  flight  as 
the  One  Hundredth  entered  the  fort.  The  regiment 
was  ordered  on  and  alone  into  a  charge  on  the  enemy 
whose  numbers  could  not  be  known,  and  to  all  the 
order  seemed  without  precedent.  We  advanced  in 
line  of  battle,  under  fire  outside  the  fort,  down  a  hill, 
across  a  small  stream,  the  men  firing  rapidly,  while 
the  enemy's  batteries  were  throwing  shell  among  us. 
Rising  an  elevation  of  ground  in  front  of  a  dense 
wood  of  thicket  and  brush,  the  rebels  poured  a  de 
structive  fire  into  our  ranks.  The  men  were  fall 
ing.  Shells,  like  balls  among  ten  pins,  knocked  the 
men  from  the  ranks,  while  others  were  wounded  with 
the  pieces  after  explosion.  Still  the  regiment  kept 
closed,  penetrated  the  wood  which  screened  them  from 
the  destructive  fire  on  the  left  flank.  Crossing  the 
sharp  angle  of  the  wood  the  regiment  was  thrown  into 


ALFRE  D       LYTHE. 
2?  Lieut  Co.  K.74y?Re£$N.Y.S.G, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.         255 

an  open  field,  extended  in  line  of  battle  and  ordered 
to  lie  down,  having  just  crossed  Proctor's  creek, 
thoroughly  wet ;  hence  to  lie  down  in  the  swamp  and 
wait  orders  was  our  fate  after  this  exciting  charge.  In 
front  lay  the  long  line  of  skirmishers,  flat,  firing  from 
their  seven  shooters,  so  that  in  the  fading  twilight 
those  constant  blazing  streams  of  fire  will  ever  remain 
visible  in  our  memory.  At  dark,  cold,  wet,  and  in 
many  instances  with  the  loss  of  rubber  blankets,  we 
were  ordered  to  recross  Proctor's  creek,  and  then,  to 
end  all  our  sufferings,  we  were  told  by  Maj.  Nash  that 
the  regiment  was  detailed  for  picket.  As  one  of  the 
officers  detailed,  we  said  to  the  Major,  we  cannot  sur 
vive  the  night.  The  men  were  stationed,  and  soon,  to 
live,  they  lay  in  heaps  to  keep  each  other  warm  and 
brave  the  cold  till  morn,  or  sooner  relief.  It  was  a 
second  edition  of  the  night  before  Williamsburg.  "We 
were  so  chilled,  that  to  have  stopped  a  double-quick  on 
our  beat  from  post  to  post  would  have  caused  us  to  drop 
and  become  at  once  unconscious.  As  memory  serves 
us  now  we  moved  about  almost  unconsciously,  know 
ing  that  to  stop  action  and  succumb  to  the  benumbing 
influences  of  cold  would  render  us  at  once  insensible. 
As  though  our  pitiful  condition  was  realized  by  the 
officers  in  command,  at  twelve,  midnight,  we  wrere 
withdrawn,  and  to  the  rear  around  smouldering  fires 
we  kept  life  in  our  shivering  bodies  till  the  coming  of 
dawn. 


256        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE  ADVANCE   ON  FORT  DARLING. THE   SKIRMISHERS   OF 

THE    ONE    HUNDREDTH. THE    WOUNDING    OF    LIEUT. 

HOYT. THE  TAKING  OF  THE   RAIL  FENCE. THE  AD 
VANCE  OF  MAY  16TH. THE  FATAL  RESULTS. AGAIN 

WITHIN    INTRENCHMENTS. DUTY    IN    CAMP    AND    ON 

THE     PICKET     LINE.  THE     REPORTED     ASSAULTS     OF 

THE    REBELS    ON    OUR    LINE. GEN.    WALKER    TAKEN 

PRISONER. GEN.    BUTLER    REINFORCES    GRANT. 

Our  work  had  just  begun.  Ambulances  were  busy 
transporting  the  wounded  to  more  comfortable  places, 
than  in  front  of  Fort  Darling.  In  mist  and  fog  we 
moved  out  of  our  temporary  intrenchments,  and  slowly 
moved  into  position  before  the  next  line  of  works 
on  our  front.  Through  a  small  wood  and  into  a 
field  of  low  shrubs^where  the  regiment  lay  down, 
while  Cos."  I "  and  "  H  "  were  thrown  forward  as  skir 
mishers  across  an  open  field  to  gain  position  at  a  rail 
fence  in  front  of  the  line  of  works  to  be  taken.  While 
waiting,  the  welcome  sun  began  to  warm  our  bodies 
and  dry  our  clothing.  Most  stubbornly  did  the  rebels 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        257 

contest  the  possession  of  that  open  field,  and  as  persist 
ently  did  Capt.  Brunck  and  Lieut.  Hoyt,  of  Co.  "  I," 
and  Lients.  Howell  and  French  of  Co.  "  II,"  crowd 
the  enemy  to  and  beyond  the  rail  fence.  Capt. 
Brunck  sent  Lieut.  Hoyt  to  Col.  Dandy  for  aid.  The 
skirmishers  at  this  time  were  lying  down  to  secure 
themselves  from  the  hot  fire  of  the  -enemy.  With 
quiet  and  admirable  coolness,  Lieut.  Hoyt,  in  that 
fierce  fire,  passed  to  the  rear,  and  executed  his  order, 
when  Col.  Dandy  ordered  Co.  "  K,"  commanded  by 
Lieut.  Stowits,  to  support  Capt.  Brunck,  and  at  once 
charge  and  take  the  rail  fence.  It  was  wrhen  this 
movement  wTas  commenced,  and  Lieut.  Hoyt  was  re 
turning  to  his  company,  that  he  was  mortally  shot 
through  the  abdomen,  and  at  once  borne  to  the  rear, 
where  he  died  from  his  w^ound.  "With  a  cheer  the  line 
moved  forward,  driving  the  rebels  within  their  works, 
and  the  rail  fence  was  ours.  In  that  charge  we  lost 
Lieut.  Edward  Pratt,  who  was  shot  in  the  arch  of  the 
foot,  just  as  we  reached  the  fence.  We  shall  never 
forget  the  chagrin  and  disappointment  manifested  by 
the  lieutenant  in  the  excitement  of  the  charge,  to 
think  at  its  success  he  wTas  lost  to  further  active  ser 
vice.  Twice  before  had  he  been  wounded,  in  the 
charge  on  Fort  Wagner,  and  now  so  early  in  the  cam 
paign  to  be  thrown  into  hospital  was  too  much  for  so 
brave  and  useful  an  officer  to  endure. 

Under  a  deadly  fire  the  skirmishers  held  the  fence, 
keeping  the  rebels  within  their  works,  except  now  and 
then  it  wras  seen  that  officers  drove  them  from,  and 


258        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

beyond  the  works,  when  behind  the  stumps  of  trees 
they  poured  their  fire  into  our  line,  now  heavily  rein 
forced.  A  battery  was  planted  near  our  left,  at  the 
edge  of  a  wood,  and  for  the  rest  of  the  day  it  played 
upon  the  intrenched  front  of  the  rebels  with  telling 
effect.  At  the  fence  the  men  were  shot  generally 
through  the  head,  and  fingers  and  thumbs  were  lost 
while  firing  in  crouched  positions.  At  10  P.  M.  the 
skirmishers  were  relieved,  after  one  of  the  most  des 
perate,  exciting  and  fatal  charges  ever  made.  Rifle- 
pits  were  dug,  and  preparations  made  to  hold  the  posi 
tion  thus  gained.  The  casualties  for  the  number  en 
gaged  were  large. 

Orders  had  been  given  for  a  general  attack  next 
morning,  May  l-ith,  but  the  line  was  thought  too  thin, 
and  hence  deferred  till  the  morning  of  the  16th  of 
May,  a  disastrous  day  to  the  "Army  of  the  James." 
The  evening  of  the  15th  was  still  and  clear.  Toward 
morning  a  heavy  fog  arose  from  the  bosom  of  the 
James,  so  dense  that  the  soldiers  could  scarcely  dis 
cern  each  other  at  the  distance  of  a  few  feet.  Under 
the  cover  of  this  and  the  darkness,  Gen.  Beauregard 
commanding  in  person  fell  upon  our  right,  picketed  by 
a  few  negro  cavalry,  and  attempted  to  flank  our  posi 
tion. 

Gen.  Smith  commanded  the  right,  and  Gen.  Heck- 
man's  brigade  of  Weitzel's  division,  after  a  gallant 
fight,  was  overwhelmed  and  the  general  taken  prisoner. 
Equal  disaster  followed  all  along  the  line.  The  One 
Hundredth  Regiment  moved  out,  feeling  its  way  in 


One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers.        259 

the  fog,  and  in  line  of  battle  lay  clown,  faces  to  the 
ground,  two-thirds  across  the  field  skirmished  on  the 
14th.  There,  covered  from  the  fire  of  the  advancing 
rebels  in  the  fog,  not,  as  yet  discernible,  the  regiment 
waited  orders,  but  no  orders  came.  Subsequently  it 
was  known  that  orderlies  had  been  sent,  and  that 
wounded,  they  had  returned  without  executing  their 
missions.  As  the  rebels  emerged  from  the  fog,  a  few 
rods  in  advance  of  the  regiment,  and  beyond  the  rifle- 
pit,  the  right  wing  sprang  for  the  rifle-pit,  and  checked 
the  enemy  by  a  well-directed  fire.  Many,  rather  than 
rise  from  the  ground  in  that  storm  of  shot,  were  taken 
prisoners ;  others  preferred  the  risks  of  retreat  to  the 
barbarisms  of  a  southern  prison.  The  work  of  deci 
mating  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  was  quickly 
performed. 

That  sad  hour  forced  unwilling  representatives  into 
southern  prisons,  to  increase  the  number  of  sacred 
dead  on  southern  soil.  It  has  been  affirmed,  we  fear 
with  too  much  truth,  that  in  consequence  of  the  ap 
parent  dangers  of  the  campaign,  that  large  numbers 
of  soldiers  had  expressed  a  determination  to  be  taken 
prisoners  at  the  first  opportunity,  and  take  the  chances 
of  prison,  to  the  campaign.  If  such  was  the  fact,  we 
think  their  experience  filled  them  with  regrets,  and 
that  the  fear  of  death  in  an  occasional  battle  was 
nothing  to  the  daily  death  at  Salisbury,  Andersonville 
and  Millen. 

The  rebel  colors  were  flaunted  in  our  faces,  as  we 
were  borne  back  through  a  tempest  of  shot  to  rising 


260        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

ground,  where  our  reserves  were  forming  to  check  the 
further  advance  of  the  enemy.  Here  Lieut.  James  H. 
French  was  shot  in  the  leg,  suffered  amputation,  and 
died  May  22d,  in  Libby  Prison ;  Lieut.  Babbitt  was 
wounded  and  Lieut.  Pierson  taken  prisoner;  Serg. 
Donald  McKay,  the  color  bearer,  was  wounded,  and 
when  the  writer  offered  to  relieve  him  of  the  colors, 
that  he  might  the  better  secure  his  escape,  "  No,"  he 
responded,  "  I  must  place  them  in  the  hands  of  the 
Colonel,"  which  he  did,  and  an  ambulance  conveyed 
him  to  the  rear.  Such  was  the  disaster  at  Drury's 
Bluff.  Our  thinned  and  broken  columns  were  forced 
back  to  intrenched  positions.  Beauregard  pressed 
Smith's  right  with  a  heavier  force,  which  caused  him 
to  fall  back  and  form  a  new  line,  extending  from  the 
Half  Way  House  on  the  turnpike,  nine  miles  from 
Richmond,  almost  to  the  river.  Gillmore  was  com 
pelled  by  this  movement  to  fall  back,  upon  which 
Beauregard  crowded  the  whole  national  line  closely 
and  heavily,  with  increasing  numbers.  Butler  per 
ceiving  the  danger  to  his  communications,  withdrew 
his  whole  force  within  his  lines  at  Bermuda  Hundred, 
in  front  of  which  Beauregard  threw  up  parallel  works 
almost  at  speaking  distance  from  the  national  intrench- 
ments.  At  this  time  Gen.  Kautz  was  upon  another 
raid  on  the  railways  leading  to  Richmond,  from  the 
south  and  south-west.  While  retreating,  the  house 
where  Lieut.  Hoyt  was  dying  was  almost  surrounded 
by  the  enemy.  The  order  had  been  given  to  fall  back. 
Chaplain  Linn  was  at  his  side.  He  determined  to 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        261 

save  him.  A  sergeant  procured  a  stretcher.  The 
Lieutenant  was  laid  upon  it  and  almost  immediately 
expired.  The  Chaplain  covered  him  with  a  blanket 
and  turned  to  leave  him.  The  rebel  cavalry  were  in 
sight.  Though  dead  the  Chaplain  could  not  trust  him 
for  burial  in  rebel  hands.  He  asked  of  his  company 
who  would  volunteer  to  go  with  him  and  secure  the 
body.  Offers  were  plenty.  The  Colonel  consented. 
His  body  was  secured  and  borne  into  camp,  and 
buried  by  Capt.  Brunck  and  Chaplain  Linn  and  the 
proper  escort,  though  the  Lieutenant  requested  if  he 
fell,  that  his  body  might  be  buried  where  he  was  slain. 
In  a  wood  at  the  road  side  were  the  scattered  rem 
nants  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  which  a  few 
days  before,  and  even  on  that  fatal  morning,  was  the 
size  of  many  brigades,  now  was  hardly  cognizable  as 
a  regiment  at  all.  Gen.  Butler  and  staff  riding  by, 
said:  "Where  is  your  regiment?"  He  was  shown 
the  handful  in  the  wood  and  told  that  there  was  what 
remained  of  seven  hundred  men.  He  said  he  was 
sorry  for  us,  that  we  were  a  brave  regiment,  but  he 
could  not  help  us  in  the  hour  of  need.  As  we 
marched  and  neared  the  camp  we  left  on  the  morning 
of  the  12th,  our  numbers  kept  increasing,  though  the 
sad  gaps  in  companies  at  roll  call,  told  a  tale  of  loss 
unmistakable.  Co.  "  K,"  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Stowits,  had  lost  during  the  13th,  14th  and  16th, 
twenty-four  men  and  one  officer,  in  killed,  wounded 
and  missing ;  a  fair  average  of  the  loss  of  each  com 
pany  in  the  regiment. 


262        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

Col.  H.  M.  Plaisted,  commanding  brigade,  in  his 
report  of  the  repulse  at  Drury's  Bluff,  says  of  the  One 
Hundredth  :  "  That  the  skirmish  line  upon  their  right 
giving  way,  the  One  Hundredth  was  overwhelmed  by 
the  enemy  upon  its  front  and  flank,  and  this  gallant 
regiment,  refusing  to  retire  without  orders,  suffered 
the  loss  so  much  to  be  regretted.  Throughout  the  ex 
pedition  this  regiment  had  the  advance,  and  always 
willing,  always  ready,  was  the  first  and  foremost  in 
the  fight,  and  last  to  leave  the  field.  Upon  every  oc 
casion,  under  its  gallant  leader,  its  conduct  was  indeed 
most  creditable  to  itself  and  the  great  State  it  repre 
sents.  Credit  is  due  Col.  Dandy  and  the  One  Hun 
dredth  New  York  for  the  admirable  manner  in  which 
they  performed  every  duty." 

The  works  extending  from  the  James  to  the  Ap- 
pomattox  river  were  to  be  substantially  built.  Gen. 
Butler's  position  was  almost  impregnable,  with  the 
rivers  on  each  flank  filled  with  monitors  and  gunboats 
and  his  rear  free  for  the  transportation  of  supplies. 
The  spade  was  active  night  and  day.  At  first  nought 
but  a  picket  line  of  posts  wras  established  in  front  of 
the  intrenchments,  but  soon  the  activity  of  the  rebels 
on  our  front,  made  it  necessary  to  dig  rifle-pits,  and 
prepare  for  a  stubborn  defence  of  an  outer  line.  The 
enemy  began  the  work  of  attempting  to  drive  in  our 
pickets,  and  force  us  within  the  main  line  at  once. 
Our  picket  duty  became  a  constant  battle. 

May  21st.  A  fierce  attack  was  made  on  our  line 
led  by  the  rebel  Gen.  Walker,  a  Texan  by  birth.  In 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        263 

handling  his  men  in  the  wood  he  became  separated 
from  his  command  and  rode  np  to  onr  line,  and  think 
ing  it  his  own,  ordered  us  on,  when  at  once  seeing  his 
error,  he  wheeled,  threw  himself  on  the  neck  of  his 
horse,  striking  him  deeply  with  spurs,  and  attempted 
to  flee,  but  a  well-directed  volley  brought  horse  and 
rider  to  the  ground.  His  horse  was  killed,  and  the 
general  was  badly  wounded.  He  affirmed  that  if  he 
had  not  been  taken,  soon  our  line  would  have  been 
doubled  up  and  broken,  and  our  position  flanked.  He 
lost  a  leg,  was  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe  and  recov 
ered.  He  was  a  fine-looking,  intelligent  officer,  about 
forty-five  years  of  age. 

In  the  meantime  the  rebels  were  fortifyng  their 
works  and  getting  guns  into  position  to  shell  our  rifle- 
pits.  The  rebel  pits  were  only  a  few  rods  distant,  and 
the  quiet  of  several  days  was  ominous  of  the  storm  to 
follow.  They  opened  on  us,  drove  us  from  the  pits, 
but  reinforced  by  a  brigade  under  Col.  Ho  well,  they 
were  retaken  and  the  line  held.  It  was  one  of  the 
sharpest  of  contests  for  the  small  numbers  engaged,  and 
is  known  as  the  battle  of  "  Ware  Bottom  Church." 
The  trees  were  scarred  and  peeled  with  bullets. 

The  enemy  repeated  the  attack  the  following  day 
with  no  better  success.  Our  inner  line  of  wrorks  were 
nearly  complete  with  abatis  and  wire  in  front,  so 
that  the  troops  were  secure.  All  along  the  line  be 
tween  the  river  the  enemy  tried  to  assault  every  con 
ceivable  weak  point.  We  had  become  quite  familiar 
on  the  picket  line  with  the  rebels.  Though  all  com- 


264:        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

munication  was  forbidden,  still  many  stratagems  were 
planned  to  obtain  papers  in  exchange  for  tobacco. 
While  lying  quietly  in  our  pits,  at  times,  the  rebels 
would  open  their  batteries,  sending  shells  into  the 
woods,  crushing  and  crashing  with  deafening  noise, 
as  though  the  whole  rebel  army  wras  upon  us.  Soon 
the  danger  would  be  less  apparent,  and  as  there  was 
no  advance  of  the  enemy,  the  men  would  crouch  down 
and  protect  themselves  from  the  bursting  shrapnels 
sending  their  showers  of  bullets  through  the  air. 

Our  picket  line,  having  an  irregular  shape,  was 
straightened  the  last  of  May,  so  that  we  were  nearer 
camp,  and  less  liable  to  a  flank  movement  of  the 
rebels.  On  the  evening  of  the  first  of  June,  at  the 
hour  of  9  P.  M.,  it  being  dark  and  rainy,  the  rebels 
opened  with  volleys  of  musketry  upon  our  pits.  We 
responded  all  along  the  line.  For  seven  hours  the 
firing  continued.  We  averaged  one  hundred  cartridges 
to  each  man.  At  times  it  seemed,  in  the  darkness, 
that  the  rebels  were  upon  us,  and  the  boys  would  fill 
the  woods  in  front  with  streams  of  fire.  Details  were 
sent  to  the  rear  for  cartridges,  for  the  men  were  so 
fearful  that  the  enemy  might  spring  upon  them  when 
empty  of  means  to  repel  a  charge,  that  we  were  obliged 
to  deal  cartridges  singly  to  economize  and  be  ready 
should  the  enemy  dash  into  our  pits.  As  the  morn 
ing  light  made  our  front  visible,  there  was  "  Johnny  " 
bobbing  up  his  head,  resting  from  the  last  night's 
furious  fusillade. 

Butler  was  preparing  for  the  capture  of  Petersburg 


One  Hundredth  JV.  Y.  S.   Volwiteers.        265 

when  he  received  orders  to  send  two-thirds  of  his  ef 
fective  force  to  Gen.  Grant,  who  was  still  pressing  Lee 
by  flank  movements  and  bloody  front  battles.  This 
order  kept  us,  who  remained,  in  the  rifle-pits  night  and 
day.  The  batteries  of  the  rebels  were  shelling  us  when 
we  were  relieved  and  during  our  watchful  vigilance. 
Well  might  Gen.  Butler  exclaim  after,  or  at  the  time 
of  complying  with  Grant's  order,  "  That  the  necessi 
ties  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  have  bottled  me  up 
at  Bermuda  Hundred." 
12 


266        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

THE    REGIMENT  STILL  AT  BERMUDA  HUNDRED.  — CONSTANT 

FIRING     OF    THE     REBELS     ON     OUR     PICKETS. THEY 

EVACUATE      THEIR      WORKS.  WE      ENTERED      THEM, 

REACHED    THE    RAILROAD,    AND    TORE    UP    TRACK     FOR 

THREE    MILES. ASSAILED   BY  PICKETT's   DIVISION.— 

THE    REBELS    REPULSED. WE    HELD     THEIR     PITS.  — 

THEY  ASSAULT  ON  THE  ITlTI  OF  JUNE. ARE  RE 
PULSED.  THE  BRIGADE  ORDERED  TO  DEEP  BOTTOM. 

MADE  A  LANDING  AND  INTRENCHED. CAPT.  GRAN 
GER  CHARGED  THE  GROVER  HOUSE  AND  DROVE  THE 
REBELS. 

The  day  succeeding  the  evening  of  June  1st  was 
very  quiet,  and  at  night  the  regiment  was  relieved  by 
the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts.  The  enemy  would 
open  their  batteries  at  their  pleasure,  and  the  crash  of 
exploding  shell  in  the  woods  was  startling.  The  men 
would  lie  close  in  the  pits  till  the  storm  passed  over. 
The  duties  of  the  regiment  were  divided  between  fa 
tigue  and  picket.  There  was  no  relief  from  constant 
and  severe  labor  and  exposure.  The  regiment  changed 
camp  to  the  rear,  a  few  rods  nearer  the  bank  of  the 
James.  Those  companies  detailed  on  picket  on  the 


One  Hundredth  N.  T.  8.  Volunteers.       267 

right,  and  next  the  bank  of  the  river,  were  in  full  view 
of  the  exposed  line  of  the  rebels  in  passing  from  Rich-" 
mond  to  their  works  on  our  front,  in  consequence  of 
the  great  bend  in  the  river.  They  had  planted  a 
battery  above  and  near  this  point,  at  what  was 
known  as  the  Howlitt  House,  and  at  the  head  of  navi 
gation  limit  by  our  navy.  The  position  of  the  One 
Hundredth  at  this  time  was  on  a  -high  bluff  over 
looking  Dutch  Gap,  Fort  Harrison  and  the  rebel  works 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  James  river.  Capt.  Gran 
ger,  who  had  been  absent  since  the  charge  on  Wagner, 
July  18th,  1863,  and  had  been  on  duty  in  Kew  York 
and  Riker's  island  most  of  the  time,  joined  the  regi 
ment,  and  took  charge  of  Co.  "  K,"  which  had  been 
commanded  by  Lieut.  Stowits  for  most  of  the  year. 
Its  numbers  had  been  much  reduced  in  common  with 
other  companies  of  the  regiment.  In  the  details  for 
picket  and  fatigue,  only  a  limited  number  of  officers 
were  sent  out.  Toward  the  middle  of  June  every 
captain  in  camp  was  sick,  and  the  details  for  picket 
were  commanded  by  lieutenants. 

The  guns  of  Cool  Arbor  were  booming  on  the  air. 
The  soldiery  hoped  that  the  end  was  near.  But,  "  as 
coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before,"  so  the  has 
tily  constructed  pontoons  across  the  James  river  gave 
evidence  that  our  army  was  changing  position  and 
that  present  hopes  of  entering  Richmond  were  not  to 
be  entertained.  Grant  was  moving  his  forces  on 
Petersburg.  Lee,  as  soon  as  aware  of  Grant's  intent, 
began  to  move  the  army  of  northern  Virginia  toward 


268         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

Petersburg.-  Hence  from  the  Bermuda  front  the 
rebels  were  withdrawn  to  save  that  city. 

The  One  Hundredth  went  on  picket  the  night  of  the 
14th  of  June.  The  15th  they  were  relieved  by  the 
Tenth  Connecticut. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th  the  videttes  of  the  Tenth 
Connecticut  discovered  that  the  enemy  had  evacuated 
their  pits,  and  "  our  boys  sailed  in,"  took  three  officers 
on  our  right  and  forty  men,  who  had  not  received  the 
order  to  move,  as  some  were  sound  asleep.  Gen.  Terry 
was  at  once  commanded  to  force  Beauregard's  lines, 
and  destroy  and  hold,  if  possible,  the  railway  in  that 
vicinity.  Terry  reached  the  road  with  the  Eleventh 
Maine,  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts,  two  batteries 
and  one  regiment  of  cavalry;  the  Tenth  Connecticut 
still  holding  the  picket  line,  and  the  One  Hundredth 
Regiment  in  camp  under  arms.  Their  works  were 
levelled.  The  railroad  was  destroyed  for  three  miles, 
when  the  rebels  were  reinforced  by  Lee  with  ten  times 
our  numbers,  and  Terry  was  obliged  to  retire  at  4^ 
P.  M.  The  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  was  in  ad 
vance.  The  Eleventh  Maine  was  lying  in  ambush 
at  Ware  Bottom  Church,  just  outside  of  our  rifle  pits. 
The  Tenth  Connecticut,  having  moved  farther  to  the 
front,  now  fell  back  to  the  line  of  the  Eleventh  Maine 
and  faced  to  the  ground  also.  The  Twenty-fourth 
Massachusetts  fell  back  as  skirmishers,  and  the  "  John 
nies  "  came  on,  with  that  yell  which  was  unlike  any 
human  screech  ever  known,  across  the  ravine,  and  as 
they  arose  the  hill  in  front  of  the  Eleventh  Maine  and 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.       269 

Tenth  Connecticut,  the  rebels  repeated  their  yells  of 
triumph,  and  intended  to  dash  into  the  pits,  when  the 
Tenth  Connecticut  and  Eleventh  Maine  rose  and 
poured  two  volleys  into  the  very  teeth  of  the  rebels 
driving  their  yells  and  thoughts  clear  through  them, 
when  with  dead  and  wounded  they  beat  a  hasty  re 
treat.  They  got  no  farther  than  their  main  works, 
while  we  held  their  pits.  At  5  P.  M.  the  One  Hun 
dredth  Kegiment,  under  Maj.  E^ash,  was  ordered  out 
to  support  our  brigade.  We  lay  all  night  in  rear  of 
the  Twenty-fourth-Massachusetts,  and  all  day  the  17th 
of  June,  when  the  rebels  made  another  ineffectual  at 
tempt  to  regain  their  pits.  They  made  a  dash  on  the 
left  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  and  in  front  of 
the  Thirty-ninth  Illinois,  and  drove  the  latter  from  the 
pits.  But  the  Thirty-ninth,  with  that  veteran  cool 
ness,  skirmished  back  and  retook  their  position,  sup 
ported  by  Co.  "  I,"  Capt.  Brunck,  who,  always  cool,  was 
there,  not  to  be  driven ;  while  the  left  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Massachusetts  was  strengthened  by  Co.  "K," 
Lieut.  Stowits,  whose  men  at  once  commenced  to  throw 
up  a  rifle  pit,  the  balls  flying  like  hail,  though  too 
high  for  effect.  The  adjutant  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Massachusetts  had  his  lips  cut  close  to  his  teeth  with 
out  breaking  the  enamel,  a  marvel  of  close  shooting. 
We  held  them  when  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment 
was  relieved  at  10  P.  M.  The  forces  that  struck 
Terry  on  that  exciting  day  were  Pickett's  division  of 
Longstreet's  corps,  on  its  way  from  Richmond  to 
Petersburg. 


270        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

Assistant  Surgeon  William  D.  Murray,  who  had 
faithfully  served  the  regiment,  and  won  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  both  officers  and  men,  left  the  One 
Hundredth  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  June  15th,  1864, 
and  was  mustered  out  of  the  regiment  and  into  the 
One  Hundred  and  Sixty-first  Regiment  of  New  York 
Volunteers,  as  surgeon,  July  16th,  1864 ;  and  soon  after 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  department  of  the 
Gulf,  where  the  experience  of  Surg.  Murray  was  made 
successfully  available  in  the  sanitary  welfare  of  those 
committed  to  his  charge.  Surg.  Kktenger  and  Surg. 
Murray  served  the  full  term  of  three  years,  com 
pleting  their  obligations  to  government. 

During  this  movement  the  monitors  just  below,  in 
the  James,  would  throw  their  fifteen-inch  shells  into 
the  enemy's  lines,  and  the  rumble  and  echoes  were  as 
if  a  whole  blacksmith  shop,  tools,  anvils,  bellows  and 
all  were  hurled  through  the  air,  to  the  appalling  dis 
comfiture  of  the  astounded  rebels.  Both  lines,  mon 
itors  and  battle  were  within  a  breadth  of  two  and  a 
half  miles. 

On  the  evening  of  the  18th  of  June,  the  One  Hun 
dredth  Regiment  was  ordered  on  picket,  and  occupied 
the  rear  pits  from  those  held  on  the  17th.  We  were 
stationed  along  a  ravine  with  two  companies,  and  our 
right  resting  on  the  James  river.  The  gunboats  were 
just  below.  It  was  a  bright  and  beautiful  night. 
Every  stump  was  a  moving  rebel,  and  the  shadows  of 
the  waving  branches  in  the  breeze  were  squads  of  ad 
vancing  rebels.  My  position,  with  my  two  companies, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        271 

was  an  almost  impassable  locality,  terminating  in  a 
wood  slide  of  one  hundred  feet  in  descent,  at  the  foot 
of  which  was  a  wharf  from  which  steamers  were  sup 
plied  with  fuel  in  the  days  of  peace,  when  red  war  was 
not  raging  through  those  quiet  vales.  It  was  Sunday. 
We  had  been  fighting  for  three  days.  "We  were  ex 
pecting  an  attack  at  any  moment.  Our  life  was  in 
the  rifle-pits.  My  negro,  God  bless  him,  brought  my 
meals  when  shot  and  shell  were  flying  in  every  direc 
tion.  His  bravery  always  insured  my  coffee  and  hard 
tack,  blanket  and  overcoat.  Wiley  Walker,  like 
many  other  colored  servants,  was0a  character  marked 
and  individual.  He  was  brave,  reliable  and  full  of  the 
merits  of  our  cause.  In  the  rear  of  our  tent,  often  has 
his  soothing  voice,  with  tones  rich  and  musical,  lulled 
our  wearied  spirits  to  rest,  as  did  our  mother  in  our 
infant  days.  He  left  his  family,  joined  us  at  Glouces 
ter  Point,  May  2d,  1864,  and  entered  Richmond  the 
last  of  April,  1865,  meeting  his  family,  having  seen 
what  he  had  long  hoped  for,  the  surrender  of  Lee  and 
the  capture  of  the  rebel  capital. 

Monday,  June  20th.  The  brigade,  commanded  by 
Gen.  R.  S.  Foster,  was  ordered  to  take  and  hold  Deep 
Bottom.  The  One  Hundredth  New  York,  Eleventh 
Maine,  Tenth  Connecticut,  and  Twenth-fourth  Massa 
chusetts  moved  out  of  camp  in  light  marching  order 
at  5  P.  M.,  and  in  heat  and  clouds  of  dust  marched 
ten  miles  below  Richmond  to  a  spot  on  a  narrow 
peninsula,  known  in  the  bend  of  the  James  river  as 
Deep  Bottom,  the  water  being  estimated  at  eighty 


272        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

feet  in  depth.  A  pontoon  train  had  preceded  us.  The 
boats  were  soon  afloat.  The  troops  on  the  river  bank 
were  divided  into  details  to  carry  the  string-pieces,  to 
place  them  in  position  on  the  boats,  to  bring  plank,  to 
lay  them  in  place,  and  all  with  wonderful  celerity  and 
precision,  so  that  a  little  after  midnight  the  bridge  was 
complete,  the  brigade  was  over,  and  the  axes  of  the 
Eleventh  Maine  were  ringing  in  echoes  through  the 
woods,  and  the  shovel  was  busily  employed  in  throw 
ing  up  intrenchments  for  defence.  This  was  another 
of  those  prompt  movements  of  Gen.  Butler,  and  was 
a  decided  success.  The  secure  position  of  Gen.  Foster 
enabled  Gen.  Grant  to  throw  heavy  bodies  of  troops 
to  the  north  side  of  the  James  when  desired.  Gen. 
Lee,  seeing  this  advantage,  constructed  a  pontoon 
bridge  across  the  river  at  Drury's  Bluff  to  make  a  bet 
ter  resistance  to  Grant's  flanking  movements.  Cav 
alry  videttes  were  posted  in  front  of  our  position  while 
our  work  of  heavy  fatigue  went  on.  Three  thousand 
Ohio  troops  of  one  hundred  days  men  suddenly  appeared 
among  us.  We  threw  down  the  shovel  and  took  up 
the  gun,  and  soon  had  active  work  to  do.  A  post  of 
cavalry  had  been  driven  in  at  the  Grover  House,  one 
mile  from  the  landing.  Gen.  Foster  applied  to  Col. 
Dandy  for  one  company,  all  he  could  afford  to  lose, 
he  said,  if  unsuccessful  in  driving  the  enemy  from  the 
house.  Capt.  Granger,  the  senior  officer  of  the  line, 
and  Co.  "  K,"  were  chosen  to  make  the  charge.  As 
the  company  had  been  commanded  by  Lieut.  Stowits 
for  most  of  the  year,  and  there  being;  no  other  officer  in 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        273 

it,  he  being  then  in  command  of  Co."  A,"  Col.  Dandy 
asked  Lieut.  Stowits  if  he  would  accompany  Capt. 
Granger  to  make  the  charge.  The  Lieutenant  re 
sponded,  "  Yes,  Colonel,  if  you  order  it."  He  replied, 
"  I  should  like  to  have  you  go."  The  Lieutenant  went. 
The  company  moved  out  to  the  right,  and  in  the  mean 
time  Maj.  Nash  sent  a  sergeant  and  a  few  picked  men 
to  make  a  detour  through  the  woods  and  deceive  the 
rebels  as  to  the  numbers  upon  them.  We  had  to  pass 
through  three  fields  before  reaching  the  house,  one  of 
oats  and  the  last  of  corn  to  the  height  of  the  knee. 
The  Major  followed  us  across  the  ravine  and  to  the 
spot  where  we  were  to  charge  through  the  corn  field. 
At  a  double  quick,  amid  a  shower  of  balls,  while  the 
crack  of  rifles  in  the  woods  told  us  that  our  skirmish 
ers  were  at  work,  we  pushed  on  and  reached  the  fence 
at  the  right  flank  of  the  house,  without  firing  a  shot 
and  with  the  loss  of  only  one  man,  Corporal  Bond, 
shot  in  the  foot.  What  with  the  firing  of  our  men  in 
the  woods,  and  the  strong  front  of  a  full  regiment  of 
one  hundred  days  men  drawn  up  in  line  at  the  spot 
where  we  started,  and  our  quick  dash  to  gain  the  fence, 
completely  frightened  the  "  Johnnies,"  and  the  Grover 

House  was  ours. 
12* 


274        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIIL 

THE   POSITION  OP  THE  GROVER  HOUSE. THE  ASSISTANCE 

OF    THE    GUNBOATS.  THE    REBELS    SHELLED. OUR 

POSITION    AT    DEEP    BOTTOM    CONTRASTED    WITH    THAT 

ON     THE     BERMUPA    FRONT. THE     WORKS     ON     OUR 

FRONT  WERE  MADE  STRONG. THE  BRIGADE  WAS  RE 
INFORCED.  JULY     27TH     HANCOCK     AND     SHERIDAN 

MOVED  UPON  OUR  RIGHT.. THE  WHOLE  LINE  MOVED. 

—  CO.   "iv,"  CAPT.  GRANGER,  MADE  ANOTHER  CHARGE. 

—  CAPT.    RICHARDSON    KILLED. HIS    BODY    WAS    NOT 

RECOVERED. 

The  Grover  House  was  the  most  advanced  post  on 
our  picket  line  at  Deep  Bottom,  in  easy  and  fair  range 
of  the  fort  on  the  opposite  hill,  with  the  right  and  left 
of  our  picket  line  refused,  as  military  would  express  it. 
As  soon  as  the  rebels  were  driven  from  the  house,  we 
posted  a  picket  on  the  left  in  view  of  a  point  of  woods, 
fear;ng  a  flank  movement,  as  two  regiments  of  rebel 
infantry  and  one  of  cavalry  were  a  short  distance  from 
us,  and  it  was  thought  that  an  effort  would  be  made  to 
retake  the  house. 

The  gunboats  in  the  river  were  waiting  the  signal  to 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        275 

open  fire.  We  had  hardly  posted  the  picket  before  a 
Parrott  shell  struck  a  few  rods  from  us,  ploughed  up 
the  soft  soil,  which  knocked  over  the  man  on  post,  nearly 
covering  him  with  dirt,  and  passed  on,  exploding  in  the 
woods  beyond.  We  said  to  the  picket,  who  was  a 
German,  "Are  you  hurt?"  He  replied,  "  No,"  but  I  soon 
saw  that  he  was  stunned  and  not  a  little  demoralized. 
We  supplied  his  place.  The  next  shot  passed  over  our 
heads  and  burst  among  the  retreating  rebels.  The 
range  was  fairly  obtained,  and  no  further  anxiety  was 
felt.  Co.  "  K  "  was  relieved,  and  fresh  men  held  the 
house  during  the  night.  Col.  Dandy  was  compli 
mented  for  the  successful  charge  of  Capt.  Granger, 
which  was  truly  merited  as  far  as  the  Captain  and  Co. 
"  K  "  were  concerned.  We  have  ever  felt  respect  for 
that  regiment  from  Ohio  of  one  hundred  days  men. 
The  sight  of  that  large  regiment,  sent  to  dig  and  not 
to  fight,  surprised  and  frightened  the  rebels,  and  saved 
Co.  "  K  "  from  destruction. 

Our  picket  line  was  established  along  the  brow  of 
the  hill  in  front  of  the  fort  being  constructed,  and 
overlooking  the  valley,  the  Grover  House  and  the  rebel 
line  in  front.  The  enemy  commenced  to  throw  up 
parallel  works  as  soon  as  they  saw  that  we  were  firmly 
seated  at  Deep  Bottom.  The  baggage  of  the  regi 
ment  had  arrived,  and  a  spot  had  been  selected  for 
camp,  which  was  at  once  occupied.  Dig,  watch  and 
chop  were  the  orders  day  and  night. 

Adjt.  Peck  was  sick.  Lieut.  George  G.  Barnum 
was  acting  adjutant.  Capt.  Brown,  who  had  been  act- 


276        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

ing  as  quartermaster  for  a  long  time,  asked  to  be  re 
lieved,  which  was  granted,  and  George  G.  Barnum 
appointed  in  his  place,  who  wras  familiar  with  its 
duties,  having  been  associated  with  Capt.  Brown  as 
quartermaster  sergeant.  In  the  meantime  Adjt.  Peck 
had  returned  to  duty.  The  fatigue  of  the  regiment 
was  excessive.  The  change  from  Bermuda  front  to 
Deep  Bottom,  in  many  respects,  was  for  the  better. 
We  had  the  best  of  spring  water  bubbling  from  the 
earth,  making  small  streams,  and  in  quantity  to  supply 
many  brigades.  Our  right  rested  on  Four  Mile  creek, 
and  our  left  flank,  and  most  of  our  front  and  ri^lit  of 

'  o 

the  picket  line,  was  in  the  woods,  a  welcome  shade 
during  the  very  warm  days  of  July  and  August. 

Fine  buildings  overlooking  the  James  had  been 
burned,  leaving  nothing  but  those  large  towering 
chimneys,  small  monuments  of  secesh  folly  and  fa 
natical  ruin.  These  chimneys  throughout  the  South 
are  generally  constructed  on  the  outside  of  the  build 
ing,  as  there  is  more  room  outside  than  in. 

The  facilities  for  bathing,  on  shore  and  from  the 
pontoon  bridge,  were  unequaled,  and  were  gleefully 
improved. 

The  gunboats  Mendota  and  Hunchback  lay  in  the 
stream  cooperating  with  Gen.  Foster,  the  former 
below  the  pontoon,  and  the  later  above  the  bridge. 
The  enemy  shelled  the  gunboats  throughout  the  22d 
of  June.  The  Mendota  returned  the  enemy's  fire,  and 
silenced  their  batteries.  The  rebels  on  the  front  of 
Gen.  Foster's  brigade  were  Cook's  brigade,  of  Heath's 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        277 

division  of  A.  P.  Hill's  corps.  Their  cavalry  was 
commanded  by  Maj.  Robbins  of  Hocum's  legion.  The 
gunboats  continued  to  shell  the  enemy  left  and  right, 
driving  them  farther  from  our  picket  line,  and  making 
them  very  chary  of  an  advance.  At  this  time  the 
men  were  digging  to  lay  out  camp  near  where  one  of 
the  buildings  was  situated,  and  discovered  a  large  iron 
pot  nearly  filled  with  gold  and  silver.  The  excitement 
was  intense  among  the  boys,  when  these  spoils  of  war 
were  divided  among  them  on  their  "own  motion.  The 
amount  was  variously  estimated  from  five  hundred  to 
five  thousand  dollars.  We  remember  that  it  was  dif 
ficult  to  ascertain  the  precise  amount,  though  we  saw 
many  pieces  of  the  coin  in  the  hands  of  members  of 
the  One  Hundredth  Eegiment. 

This  successful  movement  of  Gen.  Foster,  and  his 
tenable  position  at  the  point  selected,  elicited  words 
of  warm  commendation  from  all  acquainted  with  the 
facts  of  the  undertaking.  The  forts  soon  assumed 
shape,  and  were  manned,  and  the  covered  way  leading 
from  one  to  the  other  was  finished  a  little  after  the 
fourth  of  July.  Till  the  15th  of  July  there  had  been 
no  rain  for  forty  days.  Digging  was  labor  in  that 
hard  red  clay.  It  took  the  larger  part  of  three  regi 
ments  to  picket  the  line,  and  hence  we  averaged  every 
second  night  on  duty.  The  weather  was  very  warm, 
though  the  James  river  was  very  near.  There  was  an 
occasional  alarm  on  the  picket  line.  One  night  a  sen 
tinel  blazed  away  at  a  hog  foraging  near  the  line. 

We  had  pushed  our  line  farther  into  the  woods  as 


278        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

July  advanced.  The  woods  caught  fire  and  burned 
fiercely,  threatening  camp.  A  welcome  rain  and  for 
tunate  slashing  in  front,  saved  the  camps  from  destruc 
tion.  The  middle  of  July  the  brigade  was  reinforced 
by  a  regiment  of  dismounted  Maryland  cavalry,  and 
our  duties  were  lightened.  The  enemy  would  occa 
sionally  press  our  line  to  try  its  strength,  but  were  in 
variably  repulsed.  They  showed  much  activity  along 
our  front  during  the  last  days  of  July.  Capt.  William 
Brown  resigned  from  ill  health,  and  left  for  the  North. 
July  27th  was  one  of  those  exciting  days,  when  the 
soldier,  if  alive  to  all  the  interests  of  the  cause  at 
stake,  is  intensly  interested  in  passing  events.  Han 
cock's  corps  and  Sheridan's  cavalry  were  crossing  the 
pontoons  all  night,  and  that  dull,  heavy,  and  low 
muffled  sound,  told  to  us  that  work  was  ahead.  The 
One  Hundredth  was  on  picket,  and  Co.  "  K  "  was  in 
reserve.  From  12  midnight,  till  morning,  the  cross- 
ins:  on  the  bridge  was  continuous.  At  sunrise  the 

&  o 

battle  commenced.  Steadily  the  picket  line  was 
pressed  forward  upon  the  rebels,  and  the  firing  was 
incessant.  Hancock  moved  up  on  our  right  across 
Four  Mile  creek,  threw  out  his  skirmishers  and  ad 
vanced.  He  charged  and  took  four  thirty-pounder 
rifled  guns  and  drove  the  rebels.  Sheridan  kept  cross 
ing  during  the  day.  At  8  A.  M.  the  reserve,  Co. 
"  K,"  was  ordered  to  the  Grover  House,  upon  which 
it  had  charged  five  weeks  before,  and  Capt.  Granger 
ordered  to  take  and  hold  a  point  of  wood  across  a  wide 
field  and  the  Charles  City  road,  or  a  road  leading  from 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        279 

the  James  river  to  the  Charles  City  road,  and  if  pos 
sible  a  house  known  as  the  Phillips'  House,  close  up 
to  the  enemy's  rifle  pits. 

Lieut.  Stowits  had  charge  of  the  advance,  while 
Capt.  Granger  followed  with  the  reserve.  The  men 
were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  steadily  advanced. 
The  rebels  poured  into  us  a  shower  of  balls.  When 
two-thirds  of  the  way  across  the  field  we  said  :  "  Now 
boys,  make  for  the  fence  and  woods,  double  quick."  It 
was  done,  and  strange  to  record,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
charge  on  the  Grover  House,  with  only  the  loss  of  one 
man,  private  John  Brown  shot  in  the  knee,  which  com 
pelled  amputation.  Capt.  Granger  quickly  brought 
up  the  reserve,  and  the  cover  of  the  trees  enabled  us 
to  advance  with  less  danger,  but  orders  came  not  to 
leave  the  w^ood  from  which  the  rebels  had  been  driven, 
but  to  hold  it  for  the  time  at  all  hazards.  Our  left 
flank  was  exposed,  and  one  company  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Massachusetts  wras  sent  to  our  left  to  watch  the 
enemy.  The  firing  was  severe,  though  without  further 
loss  to  the  charging  party.  The  woods  were  held  for 
seven  hours. 

While  in  the  wood  a  deserter  came  in  from  the  rebel 
line  in  front.  He  wore  a  jaunty  cap  with  red  band, 
and  was  dressed  miscellaneously,  as  most  of  the  enemy 
at  this  time.  He  looked  pale  and  much  excited.  He 
inquired  what  troops  were  present.  When  told,  he 
said  "  I  am  lost."  The  regiment  to  which  he  formerly 
belonged  was  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts,  and 
his  own  company  from  which  he  had  deserted  in  North 


280        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

Carolina,  was  supporting  us,  lying  along  a  rail  fence 
in  our  rear.  The  circumstance  was  a  fatality,  and 
seemed  strange  and  incomprehensible.  He  was  at 
once  recognized  by  the  members  of  the  company  from 
which  he  had  deserted.  "  How  are  you,  Jim,"  was  the 
salutation.  He  had  experienced  the  vicissitudes  of 
fickle  fortune  while  in  the  South.  In  business,  and 
finally  conscripted,  suffered  much,  tired  of  the  rebel 
army,  and  finally  deserted.  Had  he  come  in  on  any 
other  part  of  our  line  he  would  have  been  saved.  As 
it  was  he  was  tried,  condemned  and  shot  as  a  deserter, 
August  8th,  in  the  presence  of  all  the  troops  not  on 
duty.  He  was  buried  where  he  fell,  in  sight  of  the 
One  Hundredth  Regiment  on  duty. 

Deserters  came  in  daily,  all  telling  the  same  story, 
tired  of  the  war,  constant  marching  from  right  to  left, 
and  but  little  rest,  and  no  confidence  in  their  cause. 
It  was  at  the  time  of  this  advance  that  Capt.  Richard 
son  was  shot,  but  the  facts  have  not,  nor  we  fear  never 
will  be  fully  known.  He  was  engaged  in  common 
with  the  whole  line  of  pickets,  moving  on,  and  it  is 
supposed,  that  owing  to  the  nature  of  the  ground,  he 
must  have  lost  connection  of  his  line,  and  in  the  vain 
effort  of  finding  skulking  men,  moved  in  front  of  his 
line,  near  the  enemy,  and  was  shot.  It  was  learned 
subsequently  that  he  was  not  instantly  killed,  but  died 
soon  after,  and  was  buried  by  the  enemy.  He  was  a 
daring,  cool  and  brave  officer,  much  liked  by  his  com 
pany  and  a  favorite  with  the  regiment.  His  loss  was 
felt  by  all. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        281 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  ADVANCE  ON  THE  NORTH  SIDE  OP 
THE  JAMES  AT  DEEP  BOTTOM. HANCOCK'S  CORPS  AND 

GREGG'S  CAVALRY  WITH  TERRY'S  DIVISION  or  BIRNEY'S 
TENTH  CORPS. MOVED  OUT  OF  WORKS  AT  DEEP  BOT 
TOM  ON  THE  MORNING  OF  AUGUST  15TH. THE  ONE 

HUNDREDTH  CHARGE  AND  TAKE  A  BATTERY  OF  FOUR 

GUNS. MAKE  A  CONNECTION  WITH  HANCOCK  AND 

MOVED  TO  THE  FRONT,  AND  LED  INTO  THE  CHARGE  ON 
THE  ENEMY'S  WORKS  AT  FUSSIL'S  MILLS. 

The  whole  line  of  works,  from  the  north  side  of  the 
James  river  to  a  point  near  the  Weldon  railroad,  were 
complete,  and  could  be  held  by  half  the  force,  enabl 
ing  Gen.  Grant  to  employ  the  remainder  in  flank 
movements  upon  the  enemy.  The  soldier  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  James  began  to  feel  that  stirring 
work  was  at  hand.  The  movement  of  the  27th  of 
July  was  the  introduction  of  a  more  vigorous  one  in 
the  early  part  of  August.  The  mine  in  front  of 
Petersburg  had  been  completed,  and  the  advance  on 
the  north  side  of  the  James  caused  Lee  to  send  from 
the  south  side  five  divisions  of  his  troops  to  meet  the 
impending  danger  before  Richmond. 


282        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 

Lee's  line  weakened,  Grant  determined  to  explode 
the  mine,  blow  up  the  fort  over  it,  and  successfully  as 
sault  the  rebel  works.  The  explosion  was  a  success. 
The  assault  was  a  failure.  Grant  was  disappointed, 
but  not  discouraged.  He  paused  twelve  days,  and  the 
order  was  given  to  Hancock  to  strike  the  Confederates 
at  Deep  Bottom.  Changes  in  commanders  had  been 
made.  Birney  succeeded  Gillmore,  and  Ord,  "W.  F. 
Smith.  Hancock  was  joined  by  Birney  and  Gregg's 
cavalry  division,  and  Foster's  command  formed  a  part 
of  the  Tenth  Corps  under  Birney. 

The  expeditionary  force  was  placed  on  board  trans 
ports  at  City  Point,  and  its  destination  reported  to  be 
Washington  City.  That  night  it  went  up  James  river 
to  Deep  Bottom.  The  debarkation  and  advance  were 
too  slow  to  be  a  surprise.  In  every  movement  in  the 
night,  Foster's  command  was  certain  to  perform  a 
leading  part.  The  picket  line  had  been  ordered,  with 
the  reserves  in  camp,  a  short  time  previous,  to  press 
the  enemy's  works  and  open  fire.  The  One  Hun 
dredth  held  the  right.  Through  brush  and  swamp,  to 
higher  ground,  the  regiment  made  way.  The  Colonel 
said  the  fight  must  commence,  but  the  main  line  must 
be  held  as  reserve.  Volunteers  were  called  for,  when 
the  writer  with  ten  men  moved  out  to  the  right,  skir 
mished  the  front  and  at  once  drew  the  fire  of  the 
enemy.  The  balls  came  into  the  woods  a  storm,  strik 
ing  the  trees  with  telling  effect,  wounding  one  of  the 
ten  volunteers. 

Lest  we  might  bring  on  a  general  engagement  we 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        283 

were  ordered  back  to  our  picket  line,  and  the  reserves 
to  camp.  The  enemy's  position  and  strength  had  been 
ascertained,  and  the  object  of  the  advance  gained. 

All  night,  or  morning  rather,  the  troops  came  pour 
ing  along  the  various  routes  toward  our  picket  line. 
The  line  had  advanced  and  was  vigorously  at  work 
digging  rifle-pits  through  the  night.  The  One  Hun 
dredth  was  on  picket  on  the  left  of  Deep  Bottom 
front.  At  daylight  cavalry  pickets  were  sent  to  hold 
the  line,  and  our  brigade  was  withdrawn  and  sent  to 
the  right  for  active  duty  in  the  coming  fray.  No  break 
fast,  or  time  for  any.  The  men  and  officers  divided 
what  was  on  hand  in  haversacks,  as  we  moved  into  the 
woods.  The  heat  was  oppressive  at  early  morning. 
Every  second  company  of  the  regiment  was  deployed 
as  skirmishers.  The  ground  over  which  we  passed  near 
Four  Mile  creek  cannot  be  described.  Brush,  briars, 
swamp,  ravines  and  pits,  are  but  expressions  for 
the  surface  of  this  historic  soil.  We  charged  the 
enemy's  pickets  at  once  and  they  gave  way.  They 
sought  refuge  in  a  few  advanced  rifle-pits  recently 
constructed  on  the  spot  where  we  had  drawn  their 
fire  a  few  days  since.  We  crowded  them  so  closely 
that  they  saw  the  pits  were  untenable,  and  they  fled  to 
their  next  line  of  works,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  over 
looking  Deep  Bottom  and  the  James.  The  musketry 
fire  was  terrific.  We  took  thirty  prisoners.  The  heat 
had  become  intolerable.  The  enemy's  batteries  from 
the  hill  played  upon  us,  and  the  noise  of  bursting 
shell  and  cracking  limbs  would  have  frightened  any 


284        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

other  troops ;  but  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  had 
been  on  Morris  island,  and  knew  what  noises  were, 
compared  with  which  these  were  only  crackers.  The 
regiment  lay  for  the  time  under  cover.  Co.  "A," 
Lieut.  Stowits,  held  a  gap  between  the  right  of  the 
regiment  in  the  enemy's  pits,  and  Co.  "  I,"  Capt. 
Brunck,  on  the  left  of  the  opening,  covered  by  a  corn 
field.  From  the  haste  and  disorder  manifested  on  the 
hill  by  the  rebels,  and  their  apparent  flight,  and  the 
presence  of  horses  at  the  batteries,  our  troops  seemed 
eager  for  the  word  to  move  upon  them.  Just  at  this 
time  we  ordered  a  few  men  at  the  gap  or  hollow  to 
shoot  the  horses  at  the  guns.  While  directing,  a  shell 
exploded  on  our  front,  taking  half  of  the  head  of  one 
man  on  our  right,  and  nearly  cutting  in  two  another 
on  our  left,  completely  demoralizing  the  rest  of  us  in 
that  position.  A  wounded  rebel  near  by  had  crawled 
behind  a  tree  with  a  badly  shattered  limb,  begging  to 
be  taken  out  of  the  reach  of  shot  and  shell.  We  as 
sured  him  that  when  our  own  wounded  were  cared  for, 
he  should  get  attention,  which  was  given. 

While  lying,  standing  and  waiting  for  orders,  the 
enemy's  guns  still  bursting  shells  about  us,  Gens. 
Grant,  Meade,  Foster,  and  other  generals  and  their  re 
spective  staffs,  rode  up  the  road  leading  to  the  right  of 
the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  and  dismounted,  sitting 
without  the  pits  recently  taken,  exposed  to  the  enemy's 
fire.  We  thought  the  position  too  exposed  for  a  leader 
with  so  much  responsibility  as  Gen.  Grant.  But  there 
he  sat,  apparently  cool,  with  that  inevitable  cigar  be- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        285 

tween  his  fingers,  giving  his  orders  as  though  on  pa 
rade.  He  looked  so  inward,  and  distant,  that  a  child 
in  the  street  would  hardly  dare  to  ask  alms  when  look 
ing  into  that  face,  so  blank,  but  not  displeasing. 

Col.  Dandy  was  ordered  to  assemble  the  One  Hun 
dredth,  and  with  the  support  of  the  Sixth  Connecti 
cut,  charge  and  take  a  four-gun  battery  to  the  right  of 
our  position  across  a  ravine,  through  a  thicket  of  tan 
gled  vines  and  thorns,  and  make  a  connection  with 
Hancock's  left,  a  mile  beyond.  We  formed,  moved 
by  the  right  flank,  and  made  for  the  ravine,  while  the 
batteries  of  the  rebels  from  the  hill  played  upon  us 
with  frightful  noises,  exploding  their  shells  and  wound 
ing  our  men.  Into  the  ravine  we  plunged  and  com 
menced  the  ascent.  There  was  some  confusion,  and 
apparent  delay,  when  Gen.  Foster,  who  was  watching 
us  with  agitated  feelings,  showed  signs  of  excitement 
in  presence  of  Grant.  Chaplain  Linn,  who  was  near, 
says  that  Gen.  Grant  told  Foster  that  the  regiment 
would  come  out  of  the  ravine  all  right,  and  even  then 
the  Colonel  was  rallying  the  men  around  the  colors. 
On  we  went,  driving  the  enemy  from  their  guns,  and 
marching  right  over  them,  taking  those  prisoners  that 
were  hiding  near,  and  without  halting  crossed  another 
ravine,  scaled  the  opposite  bank,  and  connected  with 
Hancock  as  ordered. 

The  heat  had  been  oppressive,  many  falling  with 
sunstroke  as  we  advanced.  What  with  the  danger  and 
excitement,  and  heat,  the  suffering  of  the  men  was 
painful  and  severe. 


286        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

Again  the  regiment  was  formed,  crossed  another 
field,  under  the  fire  of  the  rebel  guns  in  front  of  the 
works  of  Hancock's  men,  and  entered  the  works,  as 
the  rain  came  down  in  sheeted  torrents.  Wet  through, 
cooled  after  the  sultry  heat  of  the  day,  we  lay  down, 
stood  up,  any  way  to  pass  the  night  and  welcome  the 
dawn.  Capt.  Granger,  with  a  detail,  was  sent  to  drag 
away  the  guns  captured.  Three  of  the  four  were  se 
cured.  At  daylight  we  were  put  on  picket  till  noon, 
then  withdrawn  and  ordered  on.  This  charge  of  the 
day  before  was  a  test  of  the  metal  of  the  regiment. 
They  could  not  be  demoralized  by  bursting  shell.  Their 
culture  on  Morris  island  had  fortified  them  for  such 
desperate  work.  Col.  Dandy,  Maj.  Nash,  Capts. 
Brunck,  Granger,  Lynch,  and  Lieut.  McMann,  who 
was  wounded,  and  all  the  remaining  officers,  with  the 
men,  seemed  to  act  with  one  accord,  to  execute  and  ac 
complish,  under  the  eye  of  the  Commander-in- Chief 
of  the  armies,  what  he  ordered  and  saw  successfully 
performed. 

The  One  Hundredth  Eegiment  has  never  been  justly 
praised  for  that  deed.  All  cannot  know  the  ground, 
the  danger  of  fright  under  such  a  fire  as  was  experi 
enced  from  the  rebel  guns,  which  had  not  the  regiment 
been  familiar  with  such  deafening  noises  and  apparent 
destruction,  it  could  not  have  done  the  work  and  suc 
ceeded.  But  it  was  done  with  less  than  the  loss  of 
thirty  men  and  officers.  The  heat  exceeded  that  of 
the  previous  day.  An  army  was  strewn  along  the  road, 
under  the  trees,  everywhere,  borne  down  with  the 


WARREN   GRANGER.JUN. 

Li.Col.and  Brevet  Col.  loo11?  Re£t  NY.  SYols. 


One  Hundredth  JV.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        287 

power  of  the  sun's  rays,  and  the  fatigues  of  march  and 
exposure.  The  sight  was  anything  but  cheerful. 

The  army  of  stragglers  soon  became  larger  than 
the  army  of  operations.  Through  this  straggling  host, 
most  of  whom  had  come  from  the  front  of  Petersburg 
a  few  nights  before,  and  were  foot-sore  and  weary,  we 
reached  the  front.  Heavy  shelling  of  the  enemy's 
works  was  in  progress.  Gregg's  cavalry  and  Mile's 
brigade  of  Barlow's  division  were  on  the  Charles  City 
road,  while  Terry's  division  of  the  Tenth  Corps  were 
advanced  against  the  rebel  front.  In  an  open  field  we 
stopped.  The  men  were  falling  to  the  ground,  from 
heat,  foaming  at  the  mouth,  shivering  like  dead  men ; 
sights  to  stir  any  heart.  All  felt  that  a  fight,  fierce 
and  bloody,  was  ahead. 

At  night  we  were  ordered  a  little  to  the  left,  biv 
ouacked,  and  at  morn  moved  on  toward  the  enemy's 
line.  A  few  dry  crackers,  a  little  water,  and  in  echelon 
the  division  cautiously  advanced  through  a  field  into 
a  wood,  slowly  moving,  as  the  right  of  the  division  in 
echelon  had  farther  to  go,  to  strike  the  enemy,  than 
the  extreme  left,  which  was  the  position  of  the  One 
Hundredth.  The  Tenth  Connecticut  was  ahead  as 
skirmishers.  Soon  the  crack  of  rifles  told  to  us  that 
the  enemy's  pits  had  been  reached  on  the  right,  and 
the  vidette  posts  on  our  front  also. 

Skirmishers  of  the  One  Hundredth,  led  by  Capt. 
Granger,  were  added  to  those  already  engaged,  and 
the  rebels  were  driven  from  their  outposts,  and  the  line 
of  battle  passed  over  them,  with  an  occasional  rebel 
picket  dead,  having  performed  his  last  sentinel  duty. 


288        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

THE    CHARGE    ON  THE  REBEL  WORKS,  AUGUST    16TH. THE 

REGIMENT    REPULSED. PELL     BACK    AND    THREW    UP 

INTRENCHMENTS. THE     REBELS     ATTACK     AND     ARE 

REPULSED  IN  TURN. THE  DEAD  WERE  BURIED  UNDER 

A    FLAG    OF   TRUCE. WITHDREW    ON   THE     NIGHT    OF 

THE    18TH. MOVED   TO    OLD    CAMP  AT   DEEP    BOTTOM. 

REGIMENT  LOST  SEVENTY-THREE  KILLED,  WOUNDED 
AND  MISSING. PAYMASTER  ARRIVED. MONEY  EX 
PRESSED  HOME. 

Before  the  charge  upon  the  rebel  main  line,  the 
regiment  was  halted  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  in  the  wood, 
a  field  with  high  bushes  on  the  left  and  a  ravine  in  front, 
with  a  small  stream  running  through ;  and  beyond,  on 
the  hill  side,  the  enemy  had  protected  their  front  with 
slashing.  Through  this  ravine,  across  the  stream,  and 
up  through  and  over  the  slashing,  the  regiment  was 
to  force  its  way. 

The  order  was  given,  and  with  cheers  at  a  double- 
quick  we  cleared  the  stream  and  was  scaling  the  ascent, 
when  sheets  of  flame  from  the  enemy's  guns  sent 
us  back  for  cover,  as  the  men  could  not  live  and  exe- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteer.        289 

cute  the  command  under  such  a  fire.  The  regiment 
was  formed  on  the  hill  again  under  the  eye  of  Gen. 
Foster,  who,  with  pistol  in  hand  walked  in  our  rear, 
though  I  saw  no  need  of  displaying  a  pistol  to  officers 
and  men  that  would  accomplish  what  was  ordered  if 
it  could  be  done. 

The  command  was  given,  and  a  second  time  we 
sprang  into  that  deadly  fire,  which  had  now  become 
a  fiank  as  well  as  a  front  fire,  and  we  fell  back  as  the 
rebels  were  heavily  reinforced.  In  the  ravine  was  a 
sheltering  bank  where  many  men  and  officers  sought 
shelter  from  the  deadly  fire,  and  were  taken  prisoners. 
Here  we  lost  Capt.  Granger,  wiio  was  forced  to  taste 
the  bitters  of  a  life  in  southern  prisons.  Here  Serg. 
Kuhns,  of  Co.  "  A,"  was  shot  with  three  balls,  and 
we  saved  his  body,  and  he  was  buried  a  little  to  the 
rear  by  Chaplain  Linn. 

Since  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign,  Chaplain 
Linn  went  as  regularly  on  picket  and  followed  up  the 
advances  of  the  regiment  as  though  an  officer  of  the 
line.  lie  wras  not  far  to  the  rear,  but  under  fire,  bury 
ing  both  rebel  and  national  soldiers  alike.  In  this 
charge,  with  the  pioneer  corps  under  his  direction,  he 
wTas  first  and  foremost  to  receive  the  bodies  of  the  fal 
len,  preserve  whatever  of  value  they  had  on  their  per 
sons,  write  the  letters  to  friends,  and  perform  the  last 
sad  rites  of  a  soldier's  burial.  The  words  brave  and 
daring  express  the  qualities  of  Chaplain  Linn  on  the 
battle  field.  In  camp  he  was  under  the  orders  of  Col. 

Dandy,  and  could  not  feel  that  freedom  of  action  which 
13 


290        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  &   Volunteers. 

all  truly  brave  men  feel  at  the  front,  the  post  of 
danger. 

Though  we  failed  from  the  nature  of  the  ground 
and  other  causes,  of  superior  numbers  and  a  flank  fire, 
still  the  right  of  our  line  was  for  a  short  time  com 
pletely  successful.  The  works  were  carried,  nearly 
three  hundred  men,  with  three  battle  flags,  were  cap 
tured,  when  the  foe  rallied  with  heavier  force  and 
drove  back  the  division  at  the  time  of  the  second 
repulse  of  the  One  Hundredth.  We  fell  back  only  a 
few  rods,  and  lay  down  on  our  faces  waiting  for  the 
rebels  to  come  out  of  their  works  and  charge  us  in  re 
turn.  They  did  not  come.  We  moved  to  the  left 
under  cover  of  the  woods,  and  under  the  direction  of 
Maj.  Nash  commenced  to  throw  up  a  line  of  defence. 
Their  fire  had  been  incessant  during  the  afternoon 
and  into  the  night.  The  results  of  axe  and  shovel  were 
like  magic.  Trees  were  levelled,  a  ditch  was  dug, 
abatis  was  constructed,  and  after  midnight  the  men 
rested  till  morn  from  the  severe  labor  and  heat.  The 
pickets  were  only  a  few  rods  to  the  front. 

During  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  the  17th  and 
18th  of  August,  we  lay  protected  by  our  works,  which 
were  strong,  and  could  not  be  taken  by  infantry  with 
out  cannon.  Thursday  night  they  charged,  driving  in 
our  pickets,  who  came  in  tumbling  over  the  works 
like  sheep.  On  came  the  "  Johnnies "  with  that 
screeching  yell,  but  the  boys  of  the  One  Hundredth 
gave  them  the  compliments  in  return  of  the  16th,  and 
sent  them  back  repulsed  and  beaten.  A  skirmish  line 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        291 

was  again  detailed,  and  Lieut.  Kichols  sent  out  in 
command  the  second  time.  The  Lieutenant  had  re 
mained  out  of  the  works  when  his  line  was  attacked 
and  came  in  alone,  his  men  having  preceded  him.  Lie 
was  always  cool  and  brave,  and  not  to  be  frightened 
from  the  performance  of  duty. 

At  the  instant  of  the  attack  a  battery  of  artillery  in 
our  rear  across  a  ravine  on  a  height  of  ground,  opened, 
as  supposed,  upon  the  charging  rebels.  The  shells, 
owing  to  the  want  of  range,  were  thrown  among 
the  men  of  the  One  Hundredth,  ploughing  the  earth, 
cutting  off  the  small  trees,  and  killing  and  wounding 
them  in  a  fearful  manner. 

Lieut.  Stowits  volunteered  to  go  and  apprise  the 
commander  of  the  battery  of  the  want  of  proper  range, 
and  back  up  the  ascent  of  hill  through  a  corn  field, 
keeping  between  the  guns  in  position,  he  warned  the 
lieutenant  in  command  of  our  peril.  But  no,  he  had 
his  orders,  and  could  not  stop.  He  found  the  chief  of 
artillery,  who  ordered  a  suspense  till  he  went  and 
saw  himself  the  effects  of  his  work.  It  was  sad  to 
have  our  own  boys  shot  and  wounded  by  our  own 
guns.  Lamentable  as  it  is,  it  often  occurred.  Serg. 
Scott,  in  command  of  Co.  "  D,"win  the  absence  of  Lieut. 
Sandrock,  sick,  was  instantly  killed,  and  the  shell 
wounded  three  others  at  the  same  time.  He  was  a 
most  efficient  non-commissioned  officer,  and  his  loss 
was  much  regretted.  Here  we  should  mention  that  in 
the  early  part  of  the  day,  under  a  flag  of  truce  of  two 
hours,  the  dead  were  buried.  The  Tenth  Corps  lost 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

two  hundred,  dead,  that  were  buried  on  our  front. 
From  the  heat  they  were  beyond  recognition,  and 
their  clothing  could  not  retain  their  swollen  bodies. 
The  dead  and  wounded  cared  for,  preparations  were 
made  for  falling  back  and  shortening  our  line.  The 
pickets  were  relieved,  and  Col.  Dandy  ordered  Lieut. 
Stowits  in  charge  of  a  new  detail,  and  said  to  him, 
"  that  he  must  hold  that  line  till  he  was  overwhelmed." 
At  9  P.  M.  the  troops  in  rear  of  the  works  had  left 
and  taken  up  their  line  of  march  to  the  rear.  Still, 
the  picket  line  at  midnight  was  not  relieved.  So  near 
were  the  rebel  pickets  that  the  videttes  trembled  at 
their  posts  as  the  sounds  of  the  rebel  shovels  in  their 
pits  reached  their  ears,  causing  the  fear  that  the  ene 
my  would  be  upon  us  very  soon. 

After  midnight  we  sent  a  sergeant  to  the  works  at 
the  rear  and  he  reported  all  gone.  We  then  knew 
that  111  the  haste  of  departure  we  had  been  forgotten. 
At  2  A.  M.  we  ordered  a  sergeant  to  follow  the  com 
mand  and  get  orders  from  the  officer  in  charge  at  the 
inner  line.  As  he  reached  the  abandoned  works,  an 
aid  of  the  brigade  commander  arrived,  saying  that  we 
had  been  forgotten,  and  that  \ve  should  withdraw  at 
once.  The  moon  at  that  hour  shone  brightly.  We 
feared  recognition.  Singly  the  men  were  ordered  to 
creep  over  the  open  space  and  form  in  line  behind  the 
works.  For  some  time  we  kept  the  videttes  in  posi 
tion  after  the  posts  were  withdrawn.  Then  they  were 
withdrawn  and  we  waited  alone  while  our  men  were 
in  position  behind  the  works,  to  learn,  if  possible, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        293 

whether  the  rebels  had  suspected  that  we  had  left. 
Only  a  few  rods  of  bushes  were  between  us.  All  was 
silent.  Quickly  we  left  the  spot,  and  with  our  saved 
pickets  moved  for  the  inner  line  and  bivouacked,  re 
lieved  of  that  oppressive  fear  which  had  borne  us 
down  during  the  night.  The  enemy  did  not  discover 
our  absence  for  an  hour  after  our  departure,  when  they 
entered  our  works. 

At  the  spot  where  the  field  hospital  had  been,  we 
commenced  to  throw  up  works  for  the  reserve.  With 
a  detail  we  was  ordered  to  bury  the  arms  and  limbs 
that  lay  about  the  amputation  boards.  It  was  a  sick 
ening  duty,  and  fully  impressed  us  with  the  horrors 
and  cruelty  of  war. 

So  ragged,  at  this  time,  had  the  Confederate  sol 
diery  become,  that  they  stripped  most  of  our  dead,  and 
clothed  themselves  in  the  national  blue.  As  the 
rebels  made  no  advance,  we  moved  to  the  right  to 
join  the  main  body.  It  rained  all  through  the  night. 
Wet  and  hungry  we  reached  the  regiment,  cut  a  few 
boughs,  spread  our  blankets  and  lay  down,  lulled  to 
sleep  by  the  pattering  rain  upon  the  leaves,  waking 
not  till  morn. 

The  following  day  was  warm.  At  night  the  whole 
command  commenced  its  movement  for  the  James 
river.  In  rain  and  mud,  yes,  mud,  mortar,  so  deep 
that  when  the  foot  was  placed  into  it,  it  seemed  to  be 
placed  to  stay,  a  part  of  Virginia  real  estate.  Hun 
dreds  were  falling  out.  Straggling  was  getting  to  be 
chronic. 


294        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

And  this  was,  after  all,  nothing  but  a  "reconnais 
sance  in  force"  a  loss  to  the  national  army  of  five  thou 
sand  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  Of  the  latter 
there  were  but  very  few.  Can  the  reader  form  any 
idea  of  a  reconnoissance  in  force  ?  It  consisted,  in  this 
instance,  of  more  than  a  corps,  with  its  divisions,  bri 
gades,  regiments  and  companies  ;  batteries  of  artillery 
and  artillery  trains,  commissary  trains,  ammunition 
trains,  ambulance  corps,  the  straggling  train,  train  of 
cooks  and  the  sick  train,  who  are  just  able  to  walk, 
having  thrown  away  their  guns  or  stowed  them  into 
some  wagon  in  any  train,  all  forming  one  long  train 
for  miles.  As  usual  the  One  Hundredth  was  a  part  of 
the  rear  guard,  and  through  the  night,  and  that  red, 
sticky  clay  mud,  we  struggled  till  we  knew  that  the 
James  river  was  near,  when  we  lay  down  on  Straw 
berry  Plains  overlooking  our  camping  ground  at  Deep 
Bottom,  after  an  absence  of  a  week,  which  for  heat, 
severity  of  duty  and  stubborn  fighting,  was  an  expe 
rience  which  the  regiment  would  ever  remember. 
The  regiment  lost  in  this  movement  seventy-three  men 
and  officers  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 

Capt.  John  McMann  was  wounded  in  the  head. 
Ever  at  the  post  of  danger  he  seemed  fated  for  wounds. 
Capt.  "Warren  Granger  was  taken  prisoner,  and  Capt. 
Evert  was  stricken  down  with  sunstroke.  Sergeants 
Kulin,  Phillips  and  Scott  wrere  killed,  and  Sergeants 
Connelly,  Storms,  "White,  Ely  and  Adams  wounded. 
Corporal  Hull  was  killed.  Nearly  half  of  the  killed 
and  wounded  were  non-commissioned  officers.  On 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        295 

the  arrival  of  the  regiment  in  camp  it  was  sent  on 
picket.  Dirty,  sore  of  foot  and  stiff  in  body,  we  crawled 
to  the  picket  line.  So  very  warm  had  it  been  during 
the  week  of  active  service  that  the  varnish  "fried  out " 
from  the  butt  of  my  pistol  at  my  back,  and  it  was 
painful  to  touch  the  surface  of  my  rubber  blanket 
with  my  neck,  and  so  pressed  was  my  underclothing, 
that  in  removing  it,  the  skin,  in  spots,  came  with  it. 


296         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XLL 

HANCOCK  AND  GREGG  WITHDRAWN  FROM  THE   NORTH   SIDE 

OF   JAMES    RIVER. THE    ONE    HUNDREDTH    AGAIN   AT 

DEEP  BOTTOM. ORDERED  TO  THE  TRENCHES  BEFORE 

PETERSBURG. OCCUPIED  THE  POSITION  HELD  BY  THE 

NINTH    CORPS. GENERAL    BURNSIDE. LIFE    IN    THE 

TRENCHES. COL.    DANDY    GONE   TO   BUFFALO. FEW 

OFFICERS  FOR  DUTY. 

Though  this  advance  did  not  promise  as  well  as  de 
sired  on  the  right,  still  it  was  fruitful  on  the  left. 
Efforts  were  made  to  draw  the  Confederates  from  out 
their  works.  No  deception  would  succeed.  Hence 
Hancock  and  Gregg  were  ordered  to  the  lines  of  Peters 
burg.  Tin's  was  done  by  the  way  of  Bermuda  Hun 
dred.  As  Gen.  Lee  was  obliged,  when  the  right  or  left 
of  his  line  was  attacked  in  force,  to  send  his  troops 
from  one  side  to  the  other  of  the  James,  Grant,  as  soon 
as  Lee  had  weakened  the  right  of  his  line,  to  strengthen 
and  oppose  Hancock  on  his  left,  ordered  Warren,  with 
the  Fifth  Corps,  to  strike  for  the  Weld  on  railroad. 
After  various  successes  and  defeats,  Warren  finally 
settled  upon  the  road  and  held  it  to  the  discomfiture 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        297 

of  the  rebels,  who  saw  one  of  their  most  important 
lines  of  communications  wrested  from  them. 

The  regiment  settled  down  into  the  usual  camp  rou 
tine,  with  but  few  officers  for  duty,  and  not  a  large 
number  of  men.  Lieut.  Pratt,  of  Co.  "  K,"  had  just 
returned  from  the  hospital,  though  not  fit  for  duty. 
Serg.  Edward  Cook,  who  had  been  absent  on  detached 
service  in  the  quartermaster's  department,  since  Janu 
ary,  1863,  had  recently  been  commissioned  as  second 
lieutenant,  and  reported  for  duty  to  the  regiment, 
which  added  one  efficient  officer. 

The  paymaster  came,  the  regiment  was  paid,  and, 
through  the  prompt  action  of  Lieut.  Barnum,  the 
money  of  all  who  desired  was  expressed  ISTorth.  The 
regiment  was  supplied  with  rations  and  clothing,  and 
ordered  to  the  south  side  of  the  James,  across  the  Ap- 
pomattox  river,  and  into  the  trenches  of  Petersburg, 
August  29th. 


left  Deep  Bottom  on  the  evening  of  the  26th  of 
August.  In  compliance  with  orders,  we  were  ready 
to  move  the  evening  of  the  25th.  We  were  in  line, 
when  we  were  driven  to  our  deserted  tents  by  one  of 
the  most  terrific  storms  of  the  season.  We  endured 
the  rain  as  best  we  could  waiting  for  the  morning. 
In  the  afternoon  of  the  26th,  hot,  sultry  and  in  heavy 
marching  order,  we  turned  our  backs  on  Deep  Bottom, 
crossed  the  pontoon  bridge,  and  moved  along  toward 
Bermuda  Hundred,  and  across  the  Appomattox  river 
near  Point  of  Rocks.  Dark,  the  men  weary  and 

thirsty,  and  on  a  forced  march,  amid  rain,  thunder 
13* 


298        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

and  blinding  lightning,  through  mud,  across  swollen 
streams,  the  men  straggling  fearfully,  so  that,  what 
was  a  regiment  at  the  start  seemed  only  a  full  sized 
company.  They  would  move  out  in  squads  and  lie 
down,  in  the  darkness,  unobserved.  The  Colonel 
threatened  to  court  martial  any  officer  allowing  strag 
gling.  Then  there  would  have  been  no  officers  for 
duty  till  released  from  arrest.  At  2  A.  M.  we  were 
forced  to  stop.  We  had  one  man  in  Co.  "  A  "  when 
wre  halted,  but  soon  they  came  up,  and  before  morning, 
the  stragglers  were  mostly  on  the  ground.  At  day 
break  wre  took  the  position  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  in 
front  of  the  works  of  Petersburg.  We  held  the  spot 
twenty -four  hours,  when,  just  as  we  were  ready  to  oc 
cupy  sleeping  quarters,  we  were  ordered  to  be  in  line 
in  fifteen  minutes  for  another  position.  In  the  dark 
ness  we  felt  our  way,  and  in  an  hour  were  nearing  the 
rebel  line  along  a  covered  way,  in  the  mud  and  water 
knee  deep,  where  we  were  obliged  to  stand  for  an 
hour.  Before  day  we  were  marched  into  the  trenches 
and  relieved  a  regiment  of  negroes,  nearly  in  front  of 
the  fort  blown  up  by  the  explosion  of  the  mine  on  the 
30th  of  July. 

At  the  last  place  of  duty  we  lost  the  services  of 
another  officer,  Lieut.  Hughson.  He  was  standing 
near  the  pit  in  which  the  regiment  was  lying,  with 
Capt.  Brunck  and  Lieut.  Stowits.  A  ball  from  the 
rebel  line  passed  between  Brunck  and  Stowits,  strik 
ing  Hughson  in  the  neck  with  a  dull,  heavy  sound, 
and  he  fell  as  though  knocked  down  with  a  mallet. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        299 

He  was  taken  to  the  rear,  the  wound  dressed  by  Dr. 
Kittenger,  and  the  Lieutenant  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe, 
where  subsequently  he  recovered. 

Now  we  were  in  front  of  Petersburg.  We  held  five 
hundred  yards  of  our  brigade  front,  occupying  the 
position  of  the  Mnth  Corps,  held  by  Burnside.  The 
regiment  held  position  over  the  mine  that  led  to  the 
rebel  fort,  at  our  front,  which  was  blown  up  as  men 
tioned.  Holes  were  dug  in  the  earth  at  the  rear  of  the 
embankment  in  front,  to  protect  the  men  from  the 
shot  and  shell  of  the  enemy,  as  well  as  from  the  pre 
mature  explosion  of  our  own  shells  from  batteries  in 
the  rear.  The  firing  at  this  spot,  and  all  along  the 
front  held  by  the  regiment,  was  continuous.  A  head 
shown  above  the  works  would  provoke  a  dozen  bullets 
at  once.  The  boys  fired  six  thousand  rounds  the  first 
night.  It  was  a  new  thing  and  they  seemed  to  feel 
as  though  the  "  Johnnies  "  were  coming  every  moment. 
There  were  no  vidette  sentinels  in  front,  as  the 
lines  were  so  close  together,  hence  the  firing  was 
only  a  state  of  constant  preparation.  Should  the 
rebels  advance,  they  would  be  obliged  to  do  it  under 
fire,  and  the  reverse.  It  was  a  new  life  to  live. 
In  the  ravine,  along  the  creek,  with  secure  holes  in 
the  bank,  the  Colonel,  Major,  Surgeon  and  camp  fol 
lowers  passed  their  first  tour  of  duty  at  the  front,  in 
the  works  of  Petersburg. 

A  volume  could  be  written  from  this  period  of  time 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  experience  of  the 
regiment  was  so  full  of  incident  and  constant  duty, 


300        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

and  various  movements,  that  it  is  difficult  to  select 
what  shall  be  unrecorded.  The  tour  of  duty  was  from 
three  to  four  days  in  the  trenches  and  two  days  out. 
Coffee  was  made  in  camp  at  the  rear  and  brought  to 
the  men.  A  covered  wray,  or  ditch,  leading  from  the 
front  to  the  rear,  protected  the  men  from  the  shot  of 
the  enemy ;  though  often  our  men  were  struck  while 
moving  or  standing  in  this  covered  way.  Corporal 
Goffe,  of  Co.  "  II,"  was  struck  in  the  arm,  badly 
wounding  him,  while  the  regiment  was  at  rest.  The 
camp  at  the  rear  was  protected  in  various  ways.  Bul 
lets  were  flying  at  all  times,  and  that  hissing  whistle 
of  the  minnie  ball  through  the  wroods,  striking  the 
trees,  and  sometimes  wounding  the  men  as  they  slept, 
became  very  familiar.  Tents,  bullet  proof,  were 
built.  A  hole  in  the  ground,  partly  covered  with  logs, 
banked  with  earth,  or  one  side  of  the  tent  stockaded 
and  banked  as  a  protection  against  bullets,  with 
various  other  methods,  were  the  means  employed  to 
save  life  in  that  inferno  of  shot  and  shell.  Now  and 
then  a  round  shot  would  go  ploughing  through  the 
camp  as  a  diversion  or  change  in  the  chapter  of  fears 
and  horrors. 

At  this  time  Col.  Dandy  was  absent  on  leave  for 
thirty  days,  and  Maj.  Nash  was  the  only  field  officer 
in  charge.  It  was  a  critical  time  in  the  history  of  the 
regiment,  and  its  position  was  one  of  danger,  though  its 
experience  on  Morris  island  was  of  much  advantage, 
as  a  preparation  to  endure  this  life  before  Petersburg. 
Then  the  terms  of  enlistment  of  many  were  expiring, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        301 

and  much  labor  in  making  out  the  necessary  papers 
had  to  be  performed,  though  regular  duties  could  not 
be  omitted.  There  were  but  few  officers.  The  bri 
gade  was  commanded  by  Col.  H.  M.  Plaisted,  of  the 
Eleventh  Maine,  the  senior  colonel  of  the  brigade,  as 
Gen.  Foster  was  put  in  command  of  division.  The 
casualties  in  the  regiment  were  quite  frequent.  Most 
were  shot  through  the  head,  while  firing  through  the 
loop  holes,  or  openings,  made  in  the  trench  bank. 
There  were  many  of  these  along  the  line.  One  man 
could  do  the  duty  of  two,  or  twenty,  by  moving  along 
and  firing  through  each  in  succession,  thus  intimating 
to  the  enemy  that  there  were  ten  or  twenty  men,  when 
the  duty  was  being  performed  by  one. 

The  men  of  the  regiment  had  all  the  experience  of 
fire  arms  they  wished  while  in  the  trenches  before 
Petersburg.  Batteries  were  stationed  at  convenient 
distances  along  the  line,  which  would  open  daily,  and 
fairly  plough  the  banks  of  the  rebel  works.  Near  one 
of  these  we  lost  John  Crane,  a  private  of  Co.  "  K,"  and 
Henry  Coons  of  the  same  company,  and  one  of  the 
sergeants  of  Co.  "  A  "  was  shot  by  the  premature  ex 
plosion  of  a  shell  from  one  of  our  own  guns. 

During  the  day  the  firing  would  cease  often  for 
hours.  At  such  times  the  soldiers  in  both  pits  would 
end  the  war,  despite  the  commands  of  officers.  The 
rebels  would  rise  up  as  one  in  their  works,  extend  their 
arms  and  move  out  half  way.  Our  boys  would  do  the 
same,  and  for  twenty  minutes  or  more  a  social  time  of 
peace  would  prevail.  An  exchange  of  papers,  knives, 


302         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

tobacco,  and  opinions,  and  in  one  place,  near  a  spring, 
they  actually  played  a  game  of  cards,  at  another  a 
wrestle  took  place ;  then,  as  if  by  instinct,  all  would 
turn  to  their  posts,  and  soon  the  old  noise  would  com 
mence.  Many  expedients  were  indulged  in  by  both 
armies;  holding  up  caps,  handkerchiefs  and  coats 
stuffed  with  grass,  to  get  riddled  with  bullets.  The 
time  of  these  human  beavers  became  monotonous. 
The  railway  from  City  Point  to  the  Weldon  road  ran 
at  the  rear  of  our  camp.  Whenever  the  train  passed, 
certain  batteries  from  the  hill  would  open.  Then  the 
national  guns  would  respond,  and  the  artillery  music 
would  echo  through  the  valley  between  the  lines  for 
hours.  When  not  on  duty  the  regiment  would  be  or 
dered  on  fatigue  to  some  other  point  along  the  line,  as 
there  could  be  no  resting  nor  sleeping  in  the  trenches 
before  Petersburg.  The  spires  of  the  churches  could 
be  seen,  and  before  the  shovel  had  been  used  that  sec 
tion  of  Virginia  must  have  had  much  the  appearance 
of  "  Old  England." 

A  short  distance  to  our  left  was  "  Fort  Hell,"  in 
front  of  which  lay  the  Second  Corps.  In  the  early 
days  of  September  they  jumped  into  the  rebel  pits  and 
took  one  hundred  prisoners,  at  night,  which  loosened 
the  guns  all  along  the  line.  At  night  the  sight  was 
always  sublime.  The  streaming  fire  from  the  throats 
of  the  guns,  the  bursting  shell  and  echoing  sounds 
through  the  valley,  were  sights  and  sounds  long  to  be 
remembered.  There  were  not  more  than  six  officers 
at  this  time  for  duty.  Capt.  Leopold  Evert  was  dis- 


One  Hundredth  JV.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        303 

charged  Sept.  2d,  ancT  the  time  of  three  more  would 
expire  in  a  few  days,  leaving  Lieut.  Stowits  the  senior 
line  officer  of  the  regiment. 


304        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XLIL 

WITHDRAWAL  OF  THE  REGIMENT  FROM  THE  TRENCHES  OF 

PETERSBURG. A  FEW  DAYS'  REST  AT  THE  REAR, 

PREPARATORY  TO  ANOTHER  MOVE. MOVED  ON  THE 

EVENING  OF  THE  28TH  SEPT. CROSSED  AT  DEEP 

BOTTOM. TOOK  FORT  HARRISON,  SPRING  HILL  AND 

THE  ENTIRE  LINE   OF  THE  REBEL  WORKS. THE 

WORKS  WERE  TURNED,  AND  WE  WERE  ASSAULTED 
TTH  OCT.,  AND  GAVE  THE   ENEMY  A  SEVERE  AND 

BLOODY  REPULSE. WITHDREW  AND  CAMPED  A  FEW 

DAYS  AT  DEEP  BOTTOM. RETURNED  TO  THE  FRONT. 

Col.  Dandy  had  gone  to  Buffalo,  on  leave,  to  look 
after  ways  and  means  to  fill  up  the  regiment.  "We 
were  but  the  remnants  of  our  former  proportions.  A 
month's  duty  having  been  performed  in  the  trenches 
with  much  exposure  and  fatigue  and  not  a  little  sickness, 
the  regiment  was  withdrawn  on  the  evening  of  Sep 
tember  24-th  to  the  rear  of  the  works,  preparatory  to 
another  move  somewhere. 

Returns,  requisitions,  and  issues  of  clothing,  rations, 
and  the  performance  of  all  necessary  duties  which 
could  not  be  attended  to  when  in  the  trenches,  all 


One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers.        305 

were  completed,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  September 
2Sth,  the  Tenth  Corps,  commanded  by  Gen.  Birnej, 
moved  from  their  temporary  encampment  and  com 
menced  one  of  those  forced  night  marches  which  scat 
ter  a  regiment  and  brigade,  mixing  front  and  rear  for 
miles,  till  at  midnight  we  crossed  the  James  river  to  the 
north  side  at  Deep  Bottom,and  bivouacked  till  daylight. 

Grant,  thinking  that  only  a  few  troops  were  hold 
ing  the  lines  on  the  north  bank  of  the  James  river, 
ordered  Gen.  Butler,  with  the  Tenth  and  Eighteenth 
Corps,  commanded  by  Gens.  Birney  and  Ord,  with 
Kautz's  cavalry,  to  attempt,  by  a  sudden  movement, 
to  capture  Richmond  before  Lee  could  send  troops  to 
prevent  it.  Should  Lee  send  troops  to  the  north  side 
for  the  purpose  of  resisting  Birney  and  Ord,  then 
Meade  on  the  south  side  would  move  on  his  right 
flank  at  Petersburg.  So  the  plan  promised  success  at 
one  side  or  the  other. 

Birney,  as  stated,  crossed  at  Deep  Bottom,  and  Ord 
at  Aiken's  Landing,  eight  miles  above.  Both  were 
ready  to  advance  on  the  morning  of  the  29th  of  Sep 
tember.  Birney  was  to  gain  the  Newmarket  road, 
and  Ord  to  capture  the  works  near  Chapin's  Bluff. 
Orel  pushed  along  the  Yarina  road  at  dawn,  and  after 
a  march  of  three  miles,  came  upon  the  intrenchments 
below  Chapin's  farm,  the  strongest  point  of  which  was 
Battery  Harrison.  Ord  stormed  and  carried  the  work 
with  a  long  line  of  intrenchments.  It  was  purchased 
at  a  fearful  cost.  Gen.  Burnham  was  killed,  Stan- 
nard  lost  an  arm,  and  Ord  was  severely  wounded. 


306        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

An  assault  was  ordered  at  once  on  Fort  Gilmer  in 
advance,  but  we  were  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  three 
hundred  men.  In  the  meantime  Birney,  at  4r|  A.  M., 
moved  for  the  Newmarket  road.  The  rebel  line  was 
broken,  and  their  works  on  Spring  Hill,  of  Newmar 
ket  Heights,  taken  by  a  division  of  three  thousand 
colored  troops  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  under  Gen. 
Charles  Paine.  Gen.  Butler  massed  them  in  column 
by  division,  and  they  drove  in  the  Confederate  pickets 
and  assailed  the  redoubt  on  Spring  Hill.  Through  a 
tangled  marsh,  across  a  brook  fringed  with  trees,  over 
two  lines  of  abatis  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  they 
won  the  work.  It  was  a  fearful  destruction  of  human 
life.  An  important  work,  it  was  desperately  defended, 
but  the  black  warriors  wron  it  at  a  terrible  price.  Two 
hundred  of  that  storming  party  fell  dead  before  reach 
ing  the  works,  and  not  less  than  a  thousand,  or  one- 
third  their  number,  were  lost  to  the  army  by  death, 
wounds  or  captivity.  Gen.  Butler  at  the  close  of  the 
war  presented  a  silver  medal  to  the  most  meritorious 
actors  for  their  gallantry  on  that  occasion.  We  were  at 
the  spot  during  the  burial  of  the  negroes,  and  we  could 
have  walked  on  their  dead  bodies  from  the  outer  to 
the  inner  side  of  the  abatis  without  touching  soil,  so 
thick  were  they  strewn  in  that  deadly  charge.  It  was 
firmly,  nobly  and  bravely  done. 

The  doubling  and  flanking  of  the  rebel  line  left  the 
Tenth  Corps  on  the  right  but  little  to  do.  The  ene 
my  fled  in  all  directions.  The  One  Hundredth 
charged  over  the  ground  that  was  passed  in  August, 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        307 

which  was  familiar,  and  brought  to  mind  that  eventful 
day  when  they  took  the  four-gun  battery  under  the 
eye  of  Gen.  Grant.  The  regiment  moved  into  their 
works  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The  corps  marched 
within  three  and  a  half  miles  of  Richmond.  Such  was 
the  haste  in  leaving  that  ladies  left  their  work  and 
work  baskets  and  fled,  on  the  receipt  of  the  news  that 
the  "  Yanks"  were  coming.  The  successes  right 
and  left  were  more  than  most  expected,  though  not  as 
much  as  desired.  At  dark  we  were  ordered  to  the 
right  about  and  retraced  our  steps  to  the  first  line  of 
the  enemy's  works,  and  bivouacked  in  what  had  been 
a  corn  field,  with  the  stacks  strewn  about,  upon  which 
we  lay  down  for  the  night.  In  the  morning  we  moved 
to  the  left  and  took  position,  October  1st,  at  the  works, 
and  began  to  turn  them  with  abatis  in  front,  and  slash 
ing.  The  axe  was  heard  all  along  the  edge  of  the 
wood.  The  picket  line  was  only  a  few  rods  in  front, 
while  the  rebel  forts  and  line  could  be  distinctly  seen 
a  few  hundred  yards  in  advance. 

A  desperate  attempt  was  made  to  retake  Battery 
Harrison,  but  Gens.  Hoke  and  Field  were  driven 
back  with  a  loss  of  seven  battle  flags  and  the  almost 
annihilation  of  Clingman's  North  Carolina  brigade. 

The  weather  had  become  cold  and  rainy.  The  men 
did  the  best  they  could  without  shelter,  though  their 
tents  were  arranged  against  the  work  and  in  all  shapes 
and  directions  for  the  six  days  of  rain  and  cold,  waiting 
for  orders.  Maj.  Nash  was  still  in  command,  Col.  Dandy 
not  having  returned.  Adjt.  Peck  and  Quartermaster 


308        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

Barmim  were  as  active  as  ever,  the  one  in  keeping  up 
the  records  of  the  regiment,  the  other  in  looking  after 
supplies. 

In  the  meantime  Gen.  Kautz  had  approached  on 
the  Charles  City  road  within  three  and  a  half  miles  of 
Eichmond  to  the  inner  line  of  their  extended  works. 
With  his  small  force  he  was  too  near.  He  was  at 
tacked  and  driven  back  with  the  loss  of  nine  guns  and 
four  hundred  prisoners. 

The  night  previous  a  deserter  had  informed  us  that 
we  would  be  attacked  at  4£  A.  M.,  and  we  were  in  line 
of  battle  awaiting  the  onset.  Too  true,  the  enemy 
were  upon  us.  On  came  the  flying  fugitives  of  Kautz' 
cavalry.  Hatless,  stripped  of  everything  that  would 
impede  their  flight,  riderless  horses,  all  came  on  in 
one  stream  of  wild  confusion.  Brigade  after  brigade 
was  put  in  motion  to  the  right  covering  Deep  Bot 
tom,  as  it  seemed  evident  the  rebels  intended  to  flank 
us,  and  thus  by  a  rear  movement  gain  the  line  of 
works  they  lost  on  the  29th  of  September.  The  Third 
Brigade,  Col.  Plaisted,  to  which  the  One  Hundredth 
was  attached,  had  been  marching  by  the  flank  along 
the  Newmarket  road,  when  by  order,  left  into  line 
of  battle,  fronting  a  thick  wood,  the  brigade  was  moved 
with  heavy  skirmishers  covering  each  regiment. 

This  was  a  critical  moment  for  the  men  and  officers 
of  the  One  Hundredth  Kegiment.  The  terms  of  en 
listment  of  a  large  number  of  men  and  two-thirds  of 
the  officers  had  expired.  It  seemed  cruel  to  face  death 
and  danger  after  such  eventful  years  of  service.  Adjt. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        309 

Peck,  whose  time  had  expired  three  days  before,  and 
who  had  congratulated  himself  on  his  safety  from 
wounds  and  death,  and  his  prospect  of  an  early  return 
home,  said  to  Lieut.  Stowits,  "I  shall  have  to  send 
you  and  company  on  the  skirmish  line,"  to  which  the 
Lieutenant  responded,  "  Certainly,  do  not  expose  those 
unnecessarily  whose  terms  of  service  have  expired." 
Feeling  their  way  cautiously,  the  skirmishers  soon 
found  the  enemy.  Capt.  F.  C.  Brunck  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  regiment,  though  Maj.  D.  D.  Nash,  suffer 
ing  from  a  severe  swelling  on  the  side  of  his  neck, 
kept  close  to  our  rear  during  the  advance.  The 
skirmishers  of  the  several  regiments  were  soon  hotly 
engaged.  The  rebels  moved  forward  in  double  lines 
of  battle,  and  pressed  our  skirmish  line  so  steadily 
that  we  were  obliged  to  fight  falling  gradually  upon 
the  main  line. 

As  soon  as  the  reserves  were  unmasked,  volley  after 
volley  was  poured  into  their  ranks,  checking  and  caus 
ing  them  to  break  and  retreat  in  wild  disorder,  leav 
ing  their  dead  and  many  of  their  wounded  in  our 
hands.  Some  were  killed  within  fifty  yards  of  our 
line.  A  rebel  captain  commanding  brigade,  as  shown 
by  papers  on  his  person,  was  shot  a  few  rods  from  our 
line  of  battle,  so  hotly  they  sought  to  break  our  line, 
and  from  his  body  diagonally  along  our  front  lay  the 
dead  victims  of  rashness  and  folly.  The  skirmish 
line  on  the  left  of  the  One  Hundredth,  in  falling  back, 
caused  for  a  moment  some  disorder  in  our  ranks ;  but 
by  the  prompt  action  of  the  Captain  commanding,  and 


310        One  Hundredth  JV.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

the  officers  with  him,  Capt.  Lynch,  and  Lieuts. 
Nichols,  Cook,  Sandrock,  Pratt  and  others,  the  regi 
me))!  had  the  proud  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  they 
had  aided  in  the  repulse  of  the  rebels,  and  that  the 
splendid  colors,  in  this  their  first  unfurling  in  battle, 
was  the  rallying  point  about  which  the  men  of  the 
One  Hundredth  stood  and  added  to  their  honor  by 
their  defence.  We  had  regretted  that  the  regiment 
was  obliged  to  carry  such  costly  and  magnificent 
colors  through  swamps,  thorns  and  rain,  with  mud 
over  all.  Though  their  beauty  had  been  lessened 
by  exposure,  now  they  had  been  christened  and  glori 
fied  in  the  smoke  of  successful  battle.  It  was  here 
that  our  gallant  and  loyal  Adjutant,  E.  S.  Peck,  re 
ceived,  as  it  was  thought,  his  mortal  wound.  He  was 
shot  nearly  through  the  left  lung ;  though  his  term  of 
service,  as  mentioned,  had  expired,  still  he  fought 
bravely  and  did  much  toward  holding  the  men  in  line 
against  the  fierce  onset  of  the  rebels.  The  Adjutant 
remarked  to  a  friend,  while  mutually  admiring  the 
colors  of  the  regiment,  that  they  were  the  finest  along 
the  line,  and  that  while  a  drop  of  blood  remained  in 
his  veins  he  should  not  leave  them.  His  fate  was  an 
answer  to  the  truth  of  his  declaration. 

At  nightfall  the  rebels  had  retreated  toward  Rich 
mond,  as  it  was  fully  believed  they  did  not  halt  till 
within  their  breastworks.  As  the  rebels  were  increas 
ing  their  skirmish  line  into  a  line  of  battle,  Lieut. 
Stowits  sent  for  two  companies,  and  Capt.  Brunck 
quickly  ordered  Lieut.  Nichols  forward  with  the  same. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  /Sr.   Volunteers.        311 

As  they  deployed,  Lieut.  Stowits  told  Nichols  to  re 
tire  to  the  main  line,  as  his  time  had  expired,  and 
there  was  no  use  in  additional  exposure.  The  Lieu 
tenant  was  loath  to  leave.  Brave  and  chivalrous  to  a 
fault,  he  could  not  be  persuaded  till  a  shower  of  bul 
lets  threw  up  the  dirt  into  his  neck  and  cut  the  twigs 
of  trees  about,  when  he  reluctantly  withdrew,  leav 
ing  the  Lieutenant  in  command  of  the  skirmish  line 
till  10  o'clock  P.  H. 

The  regiment  had  advanced  through  the  woods  and 
bivouacked  in  a  field  over  which  the  rebels  had  charged 
that  morning.  On  the  following  day  the  brigade  fell 
back  to  the  spot  where  the  enemy  received  their  final 
check,  and  commenced  to  throw  up  intrenchments, 
which  grew  as  if  by  magic.  The  trees  in  front  began 
to  fall,  forts  at  defensible  positions  were  planned  and 
built,  and  all  things  indicated  a  settlement  on  that  line. 

In  a  few  days,  October  9th,  the  regiment  wras  or 
dered  to  the  rear  at  Deep  Bottom.  Reached  the  old 
camping  ground  at  dark,  cold  and  without  shelter. 
Fires  were  built,  and  the  men  made  themselves  com 
fortable  till  morn.  Camp  was  laid  out,  the  paymaster 
arrived,  the  men  were  paid,  the  money  expressed  home, 
new  recruits  came  and  additional  officers,  and  the 
regiment  began  to  feel  that  they  might  have  a  few 
weeks  of  rest,  when  an  order  sent  us  to  the  front  to 
occupy  nearly  the  same  position  held  a  few  days  be 
fore.  Bivouacked  in  the  woods  and  at  morn  camp  was 
staked,  and  soon  the  army  village  was  in  successful 
life  and  activity. 


312        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.    Volunteers. 

October  13th.  The  Tenth  Connecticut  and  Twenty- 
fourth  Massachusetts  made  a  reconnoissance  out  near 
the  Darbytown  road,  and  were  repulsed  with  heavy 
loss,  the  Tenth  Connecticut  losing  their  adjutant, 
a  worthy,  intelligent  and  brave  officer.  A  few 
days  of  rest  was  now  vouched  to  the  wearied  and 
worn  Army  of  the  James.  Since  the  wounding  of 
Adjt.  Peck,  Maj.  Nash  had  detailed  Lieut.  Fred  Saiid- 
rock  as  acting  adjutant.  About  two  hundred  recruits 
arrived  that  had  been  secured  through  the  influence 
of  the  Board  of  Trade  and  Col.  Dandy.  By  some  ar 
rangement  two  officers,  Lieut.  Baker  and  Lieut.  Kit 
tle,  were  introduced  into  the  regiment,  which,  as  such 
introductions  always  do,  caused  feeling  among  veteran 
sergeants  who  had  earned  promotion  by  long  and  dan 
gerous  service. 

The  forts  and  mtrenchments  were  advancing  rapidly 
towards  completion.  The  Third  Brigade  was  un 
changed,  save  that  the  Two  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Pennsylvania  one  years  troops  were  added,  which,  be 
ing  a  full  regiment,  never  having  been  in  battle,  in 
creased  the  proportions  of  the  brigade  and  made  its 
numbers  respectable.  The  arrival  of  recruits  to  all 
the  regiments  soon  gave  the  appearance  on  drill,  in 
spections  and  parades,  the  old  show  of  numbers  and 
strength. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  ti.  Volunteers.        313 


CHAPTER  XLIIL 

THE    REGIMENT  ORDERED   TO    THE  FRONT  FROM  DEEP  BOT 
TOM.  A    VISIT   FROM    G.     S.     HAZARD,    PRESIDENT     OF 

THE  BOARD  OF  TRADE,  BUFFALO. MAJ.  NASH  HONOR 
ABLY  DISCHARGED.  RETURN  OF  COL.    DANDY. TWO 

HUNDRED    RECRUITS    ARRIVED. THE    FIGHT    ON    THE 

DARBYTOWN  ROAD,  OCTOBER  27TH.  THE  TROOPS  RE 
TIRE  BEHIND  THEIR  WORKS  FOR  WINTER  QUARTERS. 

THE    MUSTER    OUT    OF    THE    "  OLD    MEN." THEIR    RE 
TURN  TO  BUFFALO. 

On  the  return  of  the  regiment  to  the  front  from 
Deep  Bottom,  and  before  camp  was  built,  and  the 
men  were  still  in  bivouack,  we  were  favored  with  a 
visit  from  G.  S.  Hazard  and  son.  As  president  of 
the  Board  of  Trade  of  Buffalo,  Mr.  Hazard  came  to 
look  upon  our  depleted  numbers  and  survey  army  life 
at  the  front.  He  and  son  were  u  tucked  up  "  as  com 
fortably  as  the  conveniences  of  the  soldier  would  war 
rant,  and  on  the  following  morning  the  regiment  was 
ordered  out  under  Maj.  Nash,  and  at  parade-rest  listened 
to  a  few  timely  and  pertinent  words  of  commendation 
and  encouragement  from  Mr.  Hazard.  The  scene  in 

the  wood  was  a  grand  one,  which  the  soldier  ever  re- 
14 


314        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  &   Volunteers. 

members.  The  civilian,  the  soldier ;  the  latter  standing 
between  the  assassins  of  liberty  and  the  security  of  the 
citizen.  "With  an  ambulance  provided  at  headquarters, 
Mr.  Hazard  had  a  favorable  opportunity  of  visiting  the 
works  along  the  line,  and  the  various  commands  before 
them.  His  appearance  was  cheering  to  the  spirits  of 
the  men,  as  was  ever  the  presence  of  any  one  from  the 
scenes  of  home  and  its  locality.  Col.  Dandy  and  Mr. 
Hazard  had  missed  each  other,  and  hence  did  not 
meet  at  the  regiment.  Maj.  D.  D.  Xash,  having 
served  over  three  years,  was  honorably  discharged,  hav 
ing  served  the  country  faithfully  and  bravely,  with 
the  marks  of  shot  upon  arm  and  limb,  as  evidences  of 
severely  fought  battles. 

Col.  Dandy  arrived  from  his  leave  of  absence,  and 
took  command  of  the  regiment.  Col.  H.  M.  Plaisted, 
commanding  brigade,  detailed  Lieut.  G.  H.  Stowits 
as  acting  assistant  adjutant  general  of  the  brigade. 
Col.  Dandy  protested,  and  not  without  reason,  as  the 
number  of  officers  in  the  regiment  was  few.  The 
Lieutenant  had  no  choice,  as  Col.  Plaisted  insisted, 
and,  October  26th,  the  Lieutenant  changed  his  quarters 
to  the  headquarters  of  the  brigade.  A  few  days  pre 
vious  the  regiment  had  an  election  as  provided  for  the 
army.  The  affair  passed  off  qujetly,  and  savored 
much  of  the  appearance  of  civil  life.  The  vote,  if  we 
remember  correctly,  was  democratic  by  a  small  ma 
jority. 

The  short  pause  was  not  a  settled  rest  preparatory 
for  winter  quarters.  Grant  had  determined  to  make 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        315 

another  effort  to  flank  the  rebel  army,  capture,  or  dis 
perse  it,  and  seize  Petersburg  and  Richmond.  The 
Ninth,  Fifth  and  Second  Corps,  with  Gregg's  cavalry, 
were  to  swing  around  to  the  wrest  side  of  Hatcher's 
Run,  cross  the  Boydton  road,  and  seize  the  south-side 
railway.  The  movement  began  on  both  sides  of  the 
James  river,  as  Gen.  Butler  with  the  Tenth  and 
Eighteenth  Corps  was  to  cooperate,  before  daybreak 
on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  October. 

After  repeated  successes  and  repulses  the  troops  en 
gaged  on  the  left  withdrew  behind  the  intrenchments 
at  Petersburg.  Butler  had  pushed  well  out  to  the 
right,  and  the  attack  was  simultaneous  all  along  the 
line  on  the  north  side  of  the  James.  Men  killed  that 
morning  and  during  the  day  were  not  buried  till  the 
following  spring,  when  the  army  entered  Richmond. 
The  movement  on  the  right  was  intended  as  a  feint, 
and  as  an  indi vidual  we  used  to  think  that  they 
wrere  a  costly  indulgence.  We  had  moved  out  so  fre 
quently  on  armed  reconnoissances  that  the  boys  would 
simply  say,  "  Now  for  a  little  more  butchery,  a  little 
more  slaughter." 

The  One  Hundredth  and  the  remainder  of  the 
Third  Brigade  moved  out  before  light,  and  quietly 
took  its  position  before  the  intrenchments  of  the 
enemy.  Gen.  Ames  was  in  command  of  division, 
and  Col.  Plaisted  of  brigade.  The  skirmish  line  of 
the  Third  Brigade  was  commanded  by  Col.  Greeley, 
of  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  They  had  approached  as 
near  the  rebel  works  as  was  consistent  with  secu- 


316        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

rity  and  observation.  Each  division  general  along 
the  line  would  have  been  delighted  to  have  found  a 
weak  place  on  their  front,  and  earned  a  star  by  a  suc 
cessful  assault.  But  no,  all  that  could  be  done  would 
be  to  add  to  hospital  numbers  with  hundreds  of 
wounded.  There  was  firing  right  and  left.  A  few 
determined  assaults  were  made,  but  of  no  permanent 
results.  Gen.  Ames  conceived  that  the  skirmish  line 
in  front  of  the  Third  Brigade  should  be  moved  farther 
to  the  front.  He  ordered  Col.  Plaisted,  commanding 
brigade,  to  cause  the  line  to  be  advanced  nearer  the 
enemy's  works.  The  Colonel  ordered  Lieut.  Stowits,  of 
his  staff,  to  move  the  line.  The  Lieutenant  said  to 
the  orderly,  "  Bring  up  the  stretcher,  as  I  shall  be  either 
killed  or  wounded,  for  that  line  can't  be  moved."  It 
never  was.  The  brigade  lay  in  the  edge  of  the  wood, 
and  the  skirmish  line  was  under  cover,  and  as  far  front 
as  could  be  without  annihilation.  Sharpshooters  were 
marking  every  man  exposed.  The  Lieutenant  started, 
keeping  an  irregular  line,  but  was  shot  before  he 
reached  two  thirds  of  the  distance,  as  he  predicted. 
A  daring  soldier  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts 
ventured  to  bring  him  off  the  field  under  a  heavy  fire 
from  rebel  sharpshooters.  He  had  been  on  the  bri 
gade  staff  for  eighteen  hours.  The  brigade  did  ad 
vance  during  the  day,  and  planted  their  colors  in  the 
open  field,  and  retired  under  cover  of  the  woods  till 
ordered  to  withdraw.  There  were  six  adjutant  gen 
erals  shot  that  morning  in  trying  to  give  orders  to  ad 
vance  the  skirmish  line. 


GEORGE  G,  BARNUM. 

IT!  Lieut.A.a.M.  and  Brevet  Captain  iOO,Re$*NYS.Vols. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        317 

Not  many  stars  were  won  that  day  by  colonels  in 
command  of  brigades,  or  generals  in  command  of  di 
visions.  It  was  a  day  of  death  and  wounds  from  right 
to  left.  The  field  hospital,  in  charge  of  Surgeon  Kit- 
tenger,  whose  skill  as  a  surgeon  had  been  acknowl 
edged,  was  crowded  with  sufferers,  lying  on  boards  on 
the  ground;  while  Clara  Barton,  that  noble,  self-deny 
ing  wToman,  passed  along  with  her  attendants,  supplied 
with  what  refreshments  the  wounded  soldier  craved, 
weak  with  loss  of  blood  and  stiff  with  exposure.  In 
the  morning  the  lumbering  ambulances  began  to 
transport  us  to  steamer  at  Deep  Bottom  for  Fortress 
Monroe,  where  some  of  us  lived  and  others  died. 

The  name  of  Clara  Barton  is  written  in  the  memory 
of  every  suffering  soldier  that  ever  felt  the  weight 
of  her  finger's  touch  on  his  anguished  brow,  or  took 
from  her  hands  the  life-giving  draught.  Her  presence, 
power  and  will  has  calmed  many  a  terror-stricken 
soul,  and  quieted  the  heart's  flutterings.  On  Morris 
island,  before  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  wherever  the 
battle  raged,  there  was  the  heroic  woman  with  her 
tent  and  attendants,  inspiring  surgeons  with  her  power 
and  breathing  resolution  into  all  hearts.  She  has  her 
reward.  The  wounded  that  saw  her  will  never  fail 
to  bless  her. 

Hospital  life  is,  of  all  experiences,  the  most  sad  and 
monotonous  that  can  befall  the  active  spirit  of  a  sol 
dier. 

Under  cover  of  night  the  Army  of  the  James  fell 
back  behind  their  intrenchments  and  prepared  for 


318        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

winter  quarters.  Active  operations  for  the  fall  and 
winter  were  at  an  end.  The  great  work  of  prepara 
tion  for  the  coining  spring  was  at  once  commenced. 
More  comfortable  quarters  were  built  for  men  and 
officers.  Recruits  were  arriving  for  many  of  the  regi 
ments,  and  hence  drilling  and  other  needed  instruc 
tion  for  the  soldier  was  given.  The  Tenth  Connecti 
cut  Volunteers  were  detached  to  guard  the  fort  on 
Spring  Hill.  The  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  were 
sent  on  detached  service  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  leav 
ing  the  One  Hundredth  New  York,  the  Eleventh 
Maine,  and  the  Two  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania 
regiments,  encamped  closely  together  and  next  the  in- 
trenchments.  The  One  Hundredth  lay  a  little  to  the 
right  of  the  spot  where  the  rebels  were  repulsed  on  the 
morning  of  the  7th  of  October.  The  works  extended 
in  a  curve,  with  the  right  resting  on  Four  Mile  creek, 
and  the  left  on  the  James,  near  Battery  Harrison ; 
then  across  the  James  on  the  Bermuda  front  to  the 
Appomattox,  across  the  Appomattox  in  front  of  Peters 
burg  to  Hatcher's  Hun,  across  the  Weldon  railroad. 
The  rear  of  this  long  line  was  alive  with  human  beings 
being  cultured  for  the  bloody  work  of  the  opening 
spring.  Among  the  recruits  "  bounty  jumpers  "  were 
numerous.  Brokers  in  human  flesh  were  in  a  lucra 
tive  business.  To  enlist,  desert  to  the  rebels,  change 
the  blue  for  gray,  and  return  as  a  rebel  deserter,  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance,  go  North,  re-enlist,  and  repeat 
the  same  experiment  with  its  risks  and  profits,  were 
daily  occurrances.  Not  all  succeeded.  Some  were 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        319 

shot  from  the  "  dead  line."     Executions  from  one  to 
five  weekly. 

December  9th.  James  H.  Dandy,  a  brother  of  the 
Colonel,  who  had  been  on  detached  service  most  of  the 
time  since  his  connection  with  the  regiment,  was  com 
missioned  major,  and  arrived  in  camp.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  culture,  and  much  respected  by  officers 
and  men.  Lieut.  Sandrock  was  relieved  as  acting 
adjutant,  and  detailed  as  aid  to  Col.  Plaisted,  com 
manding  brigade,  as  Lieut.  Stowits  was  in  hospital  at 
Fortress  Monroe.  Lieut.  Cook  was  ordered  to  service 
as  acting  adjutant,  in  place  of  Sandrock.  Picketing, 
drilling  and  cleaning  camp,  guns  and  accoutrements, 
kept  the  men  busily  engaged.  Now  that  active  oper 
ations  had  ceased  for  the  winter,  time  and  attention 
was  given  to  the  "old  men"  of  the  regiment,  whose 
terms  of  service  had  expired  weeks  before.  The  ne 
cessary  muster-out  rolls  were  prepared,  and  after  many 
delays,  and  a  short  time  of  encampment  at  brigade 
headquarters,  the  men,  in  charge  of  Capt.  F.  C.  Brunck, 
were  sent  to  Jamestown  island,  on  the  James  river, 
from  whence  they  were  soon  furnished  transportation 
to  Buffalo.  They  numbered  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
four  men,  including  Capt.  F.  C.  Brunck,  Lieut.  Gilbert 
Gaum,  Lieut.  Fred  Sandrock  and  Surg.  M.  S.  Kitten- 
ger.  They  were  the  veterans  of  the  regiment,  and 
had  earned  the  title  on  many  a  hard  fought  battle 
field. 


320        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

COL.  PLAISTED  ISSUED  AN  ADDRESS  TO  THE  THIRD  BRIGADE. 
— COL.  DANDY  IN  COMMAND  OF  BRIGADE,  CAPT.  BRUNCK 

OF    REGIMENT. THE  "OLD  MEN"  OF    THE    REGIMENT 

MUSTERED    OUT. THEIR    RECEPTION    BY    THE    BOARD 

OF  TRADE. THE   ADDRESS    OF   THE    PRESIDENT,   G.   S. 

HAZARD. THE  PROMOTIONS  IN  THE  REGIMENT. AR 
RIVAL  OF  RECRUITS. EXECUTIONS  OF  DESERTERS.  — 

OCCUPATION  OF  TROOPS  IN  WINTER  QUARTERS. GEN. 

BUTLER  RELIEVED. GEN.   ORD  IN  COMMAND. REBEL 

DESERTERS. 

Subsequent  to  the  advance  of  October  27th,  Col.  H. 
M.  Plaisted,  commanding  brigade,  issued  an  address 
under  the  head  of  General  Orders  No.  30,  to  the 
troops  of  the  Third  Brigade,  Nov.  1st,  1864,  previous 
to  a  leave  of  absence.  It  was  worthy  of  the  man  and 
soldier,  and  due  the  brigade.  In  it  he  said :  "  Your 
name  and  fame  are  familiar  as  household  words  in  the 
camps  of  the  Tenth  Army  Corps,  and  among  your  fel 
low  citizens  at  home.  Your  iron  will  and  firmness 
have  won  for  yourselves  the  proud  title  of  the  "  Iron 
Clads."  Since  this  campaign  opened  you  have  par 
ticipated  in  more  than  twenty  actions,  besides  skir- 


.      One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        321 

mishes  without  number.  That  coward  cry,  "  We  are 
flanked,"  has  never  been  heard  in  your  ranks.  "When 
other  troops  have  given  away  on  your  right  or  left, 
you  have  shown  to  the  enemy,  that  you  had  no  flanks 
and  no  rear, — that  the  Third  Brigade  was  all  front, 
and  that  of  steel.  How  well  that  front  has  been  main 
tained  in  this  campaign,  the  long  list  of  casualties — 
one  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty-five  out  of  two 
thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-three — sadly,  but 
gloriously  attest."  The  Colonel  commanding  added 
other  admirable  words,  all  of  which  were  deeply  and 
sensibly  appreciated  by  every  man  and  officer  of  the 
brigade. 

Col.  Plaisted  left  for  home,  on  a  leave  of  absence, 
and  Col.  Dandy,  the  ranking  officer,  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  brigade,  and  Capt.  Brunck  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  regiment.  Preparations  were  perfecting 
for  the  discharge  of  the  "  old  men,"  as  previously 
stated ;  and  on  the  return  of  Col.  Plaisted,  and  the  re 
turn  of  Col.  Dandy  to  the  regiment,  the  men  were  sent 
home.  The  manner  in  which  they  were  received  at 
home  was  severely  criticised,  and  Buffalo  not  credited 
with  that  loyal  remembrance  of  the  services  of  her 
heroes  which  was  justly  their  due. 

Subsequently  this  imputation,  whether  just  or  not, 
was  amply  atoned  in  the  magnificent  manner  in  which 
the  Buffalo  Board. of  Trade,  at  their  rooms,  formally 
received  the  remnant  of  the  regiment  that  left  this 
city,  March  Tth,  1862,  nine  hundred  and  sixty  strong. 

A  number  of  aldermen  were  present,  the  rooms  were 
14* 


322        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

handsomely  decorated  with  flags  of  the  One  Hundredth 
and  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  regiments.  A  colla 
tion  table  extended  the  length  of  the  room,  loaded 
with  what  spoke  eloquently  of  the  liberality  of  the 
Board  of  Trade.  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by 
G.  S.  Hazard,  president  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  who 
at  once  proceeded  to  welcome  the  members  of  the  One 
Hundredth  in  an  address  replete  with  tne  historical 
facts  made  by  the  service  of  the  regiment,  the  char 
acter  of  the  struggles  in  which,  as  soldiers,  they  had 
been  engaged,  recounting  their  valiant  deeds,  and  the 
names  of  the  battle-fields,  not  forgetting  the  sufferers 
in  southern  prisons,  nor  those  who  "  sleep  their  .last 
sleep  "  where  "  they  fought  their  last  battle."  With 
earnest  wishes  and  congratulations  of  cheer  for  their 
safe  return,  and  fitting  words  for  their  future  welfare, 
Mr.  Hazard  closed  his  feeling  and  eloquent  speech, 
following  which  three  cheers  were  given  for  the  "old 
flag,"  three  for  the  regiment,  and  three  for  the  Board 
of  Trade.  The  president  was  requested  to  read  the 
address  of  Col.  Plaisted,  the  brigade  commander,  of 
which  we  have  spoken,  whereupon  three  lusty  cheers 
were  given  for  the  loyal  Plaisted,  the  brigade  com 
mander.  The  inner  man  was  refreshed,  and  what 
seemed  a  neglect  on  the  arrival  of  this  noble  band  of 
the  original  One  Hundredth,  was  fully  amended,  and 
all  hearts  and  voices  joined  in  singing  the  "  Star 
Spangled  Banner,"  closing  with  three  cheers,  heartily 
given,  for  G.  S.  Hazard,  the  president  of  the  Board 
of  Trade. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        323 

Save  the  re-enlisted  veterans,  some  fifty  in  number, 
the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  in  the  field  before  Rich 
mond  was  a  new  regiment,  whose  elements  were  the 
additions  through  the  efforts  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
consisting  of  volunteers,  drafted  and  substitute  men, 
numbering  in  all  from  the  first  an  aggregate  of  two  full 
minimum  regiments.  ITot  an  officer  that  left  Buffalo 
March  7th,  1862,  was  at  this  date  with  the  regiment. 
Privates  and  non-commissioned  officers  of  the  re- 
enlisted  men  had  become  officers,  and  the  recruits 
were  indebted  to  those  veterans  for  drill  and  military 
knowledge.  To  meet  the  need  of  officers,  Sergs. 
Charles  Sheldon,  Samuel  Ely  and  Henry  Heimans 
were  commissioned  second  lieutenants ;  and  Sergs. 
Mansfield,  Cornell,  Jonathan  E.  Head  and  Albert 
York,  first  lieutenants ;  and  Second  Lieut.  Edward  L. 
Cook  first  lieutenant;  First  Lieuts.  G.  H.  Stowits, 
Edwin  Xichols  and  Cornelius  K.  Baker  were  commis 
sioned  captains,  and  George  G.  Barnum  first  lieuten 
ant  and  quartermaster.  Capt.  James  H.  Dandy,  who 
was  absent  on  detached  service,  was  commissioned 
major,  vice  D.  D.  ISTash  discharged,  December  9th, 
1864,  and  had  joined  the  regiment.  Capt.  Geo. 
H.  Stowits,  who  had  been  absent  at  Fortress  Monroe 
in  hospital  since  his  wounding,  October  27th,  on  the 
Darbytown  road,  returned  to  the  front,  December 
15th,  and  at  once  resumed  his  duties  as  acting  assist 
ant  adjutant  general  of  the  brigade,  Col.  Plaisted 
commanding. 

The  army  was  now  fairly  settled  in  winter  quar- 


324:        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

ters.  The  camps  assumed  a  home-like  aspect,  Some 
were  built  of  logs  with  apartments  in  capacity  to 
hold  a  whole  company,  others  to  accommodate  from 
three  to  five  occupants.  Recruits  were  arriving  daily. 
There  were  a  large  number  of  "  bounty  jumpers' '  among 
them.  Some  hardly  knew  the  last  name  they  had  as 
sumed.  That  is,  they  were  not  certain  which  of  the 
names  they  had  borne  wras  on  the  roll  in  the  hands  of 
the  officer.  From  this  class  desertions  were  frequent. 
There  were  from  one  to  five  executed  weekly,  a  sad 
necessity  of  military  rule,  and  before  spring  we  doubted 
the  saving  or  salutary  influence  of  fear  which  the  exe 
cutions  intended  to  subserve.  There  were  many  af 
fecting  incidents  in  connection  with  the  details  of 
these  melancholy  occasions.  The  detail  of  the  firing 
party,  the  selection  of  regiments  for  guards,  the  es 
cort,  the  victim,  or  victims,  seated  on  their  coffins;  the 
slow  tread  to  the  dead  march ;  the  last  duties,  and  the 
fatal  word  fire ;  all  these  formulas  were  oppressively 
solemn.  But  desertions  continued  till  the  day  of 
movement  on  the  27th  of  March.  The  details  for 
picket  were  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  one  hun 
dred  men  daily,  from  the  brigade  of  four  regiments. 
It  became  necessary  to  keep  a  certain  number  of  vet 
erans  beyond  the  main  line,  who  were  marched  out 
by  a  different  route  and  in  advance,  concealed  with 
orders  to  shoot  any  man  attempting  to  desert.  This 
was  called  the  "dead  line."  A  few  were  shot  in 
this  manner. 

The  most  of  January,  February  and  March  was 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.       325 

spent  in  drilling  the  recruits,  inspecting  camps,  regi 
ments  singly,  and  often  the  entire  brigade.  The 
quartermasters  were  vigilant  in  supplying  the  troops 
with  clothing,  and  the  commissary  with  good  and  palat 
able  rations.  The  weekly  inspections  of  regiments  were 
established  by  order,  and  that  one  which  showed  best 
in  arms,  accoutrements  and  the  packing  of  knapsacks, 
was  denominated  "fe0£  in  order;  "and  this  honor 
was  successfully  earned  in  turn  by  each  regiment  of 
the  brigade.  In  connection  with  this,  the  "  best  man 
in  order  "  was  sent  to  headquarters  from  each  regi 
ment,  and  from  the  four  thus  sent,  the  "  lest  in  order  " 
received  a  furlough  for  twenty  days. 

In  consequence  of  the  illness  of  Col.  Plaisted,  the 
brigade  commander,  Col.  Dandy  took  command,  Feb 
ruary  2d,  1865,  and  Capt.  John  MclVIann,  the  senior 
officer,  was  in  command  of  the  regiment.  Edward 
Pratt  was  commissioned  captain,  January  26th,  and 
Edward  L.  Cook,  captain,  January  20th.  Maj.  Gen. 
Butler  had  been  relieved  of  the  command  of  the  de 
partment,  and  was  succeeded  by  Gen.  Ord.  The  fare 
well  words  of  Gen.  Butler  were  characteristic  of  the 
man,  sharp  and  pointed,  and  full  of  praise  and  admir 
ation  of  the  brave  men  composing  the  Army  of  the 
James.  The  weather  during  the  winter  was  various. 
Snow,  ice,  rain  and  pleasant  weather  came  in  turn, 
and  with  variety  of  effect.  Desertions  from  both 
armies  were  frequent  during  the  winter.  Toward 
spring  Gen.  Grant  offered  payment  for  guns  and 
equipments,  and  the  rebels  came  in  fully  equipped. 


326        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

ROUTINE    OF    CAMP    DUTIES    BEFORE    RICHMOND. PROMO 
TIONS    DURING     THE     WINTER. GRANT'S     MOVEMENT 

ON    THE    LEFT. SHERIDAN'S    GRAND    CAVALRY    RAID. 

—  BRIGADE,  DIVSION  AND  CORPS  REVIEWS,  ATTENDED 
BY  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN,   SECRETARY   STANTON,  GRANT 

AND  MANY  LADIES. THE  FINE   APPEARANCE   OF  THE 

ARMY  AT  THIS  DATE.  - —  MOVED  MARCH  27TH  FOR  THE 
SOUTH    SIDE    OF  THE   JAMES  AT  HATCHER'S  RUN. AD- 


During  winter  quarters  in  front  of  Richmond,  aside 
from  the  necessary  details  for  picket,  details  for  fatigue 
were  daily  and  regular,  for  chopping  wood,  building 
corduroy  roads,  and  other  duties  required  at  various 
headquarters.  At  times  the  mud  was  so  deep  that 
transportation  was  impossible,  making  road  building 
a  necessity. 

"We  should  have  mentioned,  that  after  the  discharge 
and  promotion  to  the  office  of  surgeon  of  William 
D.  Murray,  E.  Schofield  was  commissioned  assistant 
surgeon,  June  30th,  1865,  and  joined  the  regiment  at 
Deep  Bottom.  Subsequently,  on  the  muster  out  of 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        327 

M.  S.  Kittenger,  Norris  M.  Carter  was  commissioned 
surgeon,  March  15th,  1865.  In  January  other  promo 
tions  not  stated  were  made.  Lieut.  EL  W.  Conry  as 
captain,  and  Second  Lieut.  Samuel  Ely  as  first  lieuten 
ant.  Early  in  January  Capt.  Nichols,  who  had  served 
the  full  time  and  had  never  been  on  leave,  went  North, 
and  returned  at  the  expiration  of  time  for  duty.  En 
listed  men  were  coming  and  going  daily.  January 
27th,  several  from  the  One  Hundredth  went  their  way 
rejoicing  for  Buffalo.  The  monotony  of  January  was 
occasionally  broken.  The  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  the  de 
struction  of  the  rebel  rams  in  the  James,  were  facts 
for  cheer  and  congratulation. 

Aside  from  frequent  alarms  at  the  front  on  the 
picket  line,  Gen.  Grant  made  an  advance  on  the  left, 
led  by  Warren,  for  the  seizure  of  the  south-side  rail 
way.  This  movement  was  fiercely  opposed  by  the 
rebels,  and  for  a  time  defeat  seemed  to  hover  over  the 
national  troops.  Finally  our  men  were  rallied,  and 
the  extension  of  the  line  to  Hatcher's  Run  was  the 
fruit  of  a  severe  loss,  though  of  permanent  advantage 
for  future  operations. 

As  preparatory  to  a  general  move,  Gen.  Sheridan 
was  ordered  on  a  grand  cavalry  raid  upon  Lee's  com 
munications,  and  if  possible  seize  Lynchburg,  moving 
southward,  if  necessary,  and  join  Sherman.  Sheridan 
swept  out  of  existence  the  rebel  power  north  of  Rich 
mond.  He  disabled  two  hundred  miles  of  railway 
and  inflicted  a  loss  of  several  millions  of  dollars. 

The  routine  of  February  was  disturbed  by  the  intel- 


328        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

ligence  of  the  fall  of  Charleston  and  Columbia.  Sher 
man's  legions  were  still  on  the  war  path.  Col.  Plaisted, 
the  brigade  commander,  had  been  sick  most  of  the 
month  of  February,  and  Col.  Dandy  was  in  command. 
Capt.  John  McMann  was  in  command  of  the  One 
Hundredth.  Col.  Plaisted  went  home  to  Maine  on  a 
leave  for  twenty  days.  In  the  meantime  he  was  bre 
veted  brigadier  general.  Inspections  and  reviews 
were  the  chief  duties  of  March  till  a  move  was  or 
dered. 

March  7th.  The  division  commanded  by  Gen.  K. 
S.  Foster  was  reviewed,  and  visiting  generals  present 
pronounced  it  the  best  they  ever  saw.  Gen.  Foster 
was  a  model  of  an  appearing  officer.  He  attracted 
universal  attention  by  his  faultless  military  bearing ; 
and  he  was  as  brave  in  battle  as  lie  wras  imposing  in 
appearance  on  review. 

We  have  spoken  of  the  repeated  executions  of  de 
serters.  We  find  in  our  diary  the  following,  to  us,  at 
this  date,  a  rather  light  expression  for  the  performance 
of  a  solemn  duty  :  "  The  execution  of  a  deserter  from 
the  Tenth  Connecticut  Volunteers,  to-day,  passed  off 
successfully."  These  were  sad  duties  for  an  acting  assist 
ant  adjutant  general  to  perform.  The  success  referred 
to  is,  that  the  firing  party  were  not  required  to  fire  the 
second  time,  which  was  frequently  done. 

Gen.  Grant  and  staff  reviewed  the  First  Division, 
commanded  by  Foster,  March  12th.  There  were  a 
number  of  ladies  present.  Col.  Plaisted  returned 
Thursday,  March  16th,  and  assumed  command  of  bri- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  £  Volunteers.        329 

gade  the  18th.  Held  it  till  the  25th,  and  then  was 
mustered  out,  after  which  the  command  devolved  upon 
Col.  Dandy ;  and  Capt.  Edwin  Nichols,  who  had  com 
manded  the  One  Hundredth  after  the  discharge  of 
Capt.  J.  McMann,  March  7th,  again  found  himself 
in  command  of  the  regiment,  which  he  retained  till 
Maj.  James  II.  Dandy  assumed  command,  Monday, 
March  27th,  as  the  regiment  and  brigade  stood  stripped 
for  a  move. 

March  17th.  A  corps  review  was  had  by  Gen. 
Grant,  Secretary  Stanton  and  a  crowd  of  officers  and 
civilians.  The  paymaster  had  arrived  and  commenced 
to  pay  the  brigade.  The  paymaster  paid  all  but  the 
Tenth  Connecticut  before  the  brigade  moved. 

March  20th.     Lieut.  Ely  went  to  Buffalo  on  leave. 

March  24th.  The  Second  Division  was  ordered  to 
move.  The  Third  Brigade  was  deployed  to  the  left 
to  cover  the  front  recently  held  by  the  Second  Divi 
sion.  Col.  Hill,  of  the  Eleventh  Maine,  went  out  on 
the  rebel  picket  line  as  a  scout  to  watch  the  move 
ments  of  the  enemy.  He  had  lost  an  arm  at  Deep 
Bottom,  August  14th,  and  was  one  of  the  bravest  and 
most  social  officers  that  was  to  be  found  in  the  army. 
He  had  good  strong  common  sense. 

March  26th.  The  division  was  reviewed  by  Grant 
and  President  Lincoln,  attended  by  a  large  number 
of  ladies  in  carriages.  The  army  at  this  date  was  in 
holiday  attire.  ]S"o  parades  or  reviews  in  civil  times 
could  compare,  in  perfectness  of  movements,  to  those 
attained  by  the  soldier  at  that  period  of  the  war. 


330        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

Good  new  clothing,  burnished  arms,  and  well  filled 
and  neatly  packed  knapsacks ;  these,  with  the  precis 
ion  of  step  and  accurate  execution  of  all  the  movements 
requisite  to  a  perfect  review,  made  the  occasion  one  of 
pleasure,  wonder  and  surprise  to  all  unacquainted  with 
the  duties  and  life  of  a  soldier. 

The  tents  were  struck  and  the  brigade  moved  at  6£ 
P.  M.,  March  27th.  Marched  all  night,  crossed  the 
James  at  Deep  Bottom,  the  Appomattox  at  Point  of 
Bocks',  and  passed  in  the  rear  of  the  Petersburg  lines, 
halting  at  8  A.  M.  for  rest  and  lunch,  then  advanced 
and  reached  the  place  of  bivouack  at  dark.  Up  at 
1  o'clock,  moved  at  4  A.  M.  and  took  position  along 
the  front  lately  occupied  by  the  Second  Corps.  Re 
lieved  the  pickets  and  began  to  look  for  quarters. 
The  weather  was  very  warm.  The  men  not  used  to 
marching  suifered  much.  Grant  was  about  to  close 
his  hand  upon  the  power  of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 
His  dispositions  were  made  and  his  troops  were  taking 
positions  for  the  final  blow.  Gen.  Weitzel  was  in 
command  on  the  north  side  of  the  James  river,  and 
Gen.  Parke,  with  the  Ninth  Corps,  on  the  south  side, 
holding  a  line  of  intrenchments  of  thirty -five  miles. 
The  Second  and  Fifth  Corps  had  swung  clear  of  the 
works  and  were  beyond  Hatcher's  Run,  supported  by 
Sheridan's  cavalry,  just  arrived  from  the  north  side  of 
the  James  and  the  great  raid  of  the  war.  The  battle 
of  Five  Forks  was  begun,  and  before  night,  April  1st, 
the  shouts  of  victory  were  heard  all  along  the  lines. 

In  a  drenching  rain,  on  the  afternoon  of  March  30th, 


One    Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        331 

the  First  Division,  commanded  by  Gen.  Foster,  was  or 
dered  out  of  the  works,  and  the  struggle  of  forcing  in 
the  rebel  outposts  was  commenced.  Slowly  their 
picket  line  was  pressed  back.  The  ground  in  front 
of  the  Third  Brigade  was  new,  and  few  knew  the  po 
sition  of  the  picket  line.  Col.  Hill,  of  the  Eleventh 
Maine,  was  in  command  of  the  pickets.  Lieut.  Bell, 
of  Col.  Dandy's  staff,  was  sent  with  orders  to  Col. 
Hill  and  rode  straight  into  the  rebel  lines  with  his  or 
derly,  and  both  were  captured.  Capt.  Stowits  followed, 
and  was  saved  by  the  warning  of  a  post  of  pickets,  while 
his  horse  was  floundering  in  the  swamp.  The  woods 
echoed  with  the  sounds  of  whizzing  bullets.  Night, 
dark,  wet  and  dreary  closed  upon  the  advance,  while 
the  men  were  set  to  work  intrenching  before  snatch 
ing  a  few  hours  sleep.  In  the  movement  the  One 
Hundredth  Regiment  had  the  right  of  the  brigade 

O  O  O 

composed  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  Eleventh  Maine 
and  One  Hundredth  New  York ;  the  Two  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Pennsylvania  one  year  men  having  been 
left  on  the  north  side  of  the  James.  As  the  brigade 
penetrated  the  woods  in  front  of  the  rebel  works,  a 
swamp  separated  the  One  Hundredth  New  York  from 
the  remainder  of  the  brigade,  and  darkness  closed  upon 
further  operations.  Col.  Dandy  ordered  Capt.  Stowits 
to  make  the  connection,  that  the  brigade  might  form 
a  solid  front.  This,  in  the  darkness,  at  a  late  hour, 
was  a  difficult  matter.  On  strange  ground,  with  a 
swampy  surface,  with  the  lights  of  both  armies  in  view, 
the  Captain,  in  his  efforts  to  pass  the  swamp,  became 


332        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  S.  Volunteers. 

bewildered,  and,  lest  he  might  share  the  fate  of  Lieut. 
Bell,  dismounted  and  waited  the  appearance  of  friendly 
stars  to  guide  to  safety.  After  midnight  the  connec 
tion  wras  made,  and  the  military  family  of  the  Third 
Brigade  was  one,  behind  temporary  works  of  trees, 
brush  and  dirt,  awaiting  the  action  of  morn. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        333 


CHAPTER  XL  VI. 


REBELS  ASSAULT  OX  THE  MORNING  OF  APRIL  1ST. — 
THEY  ARE  SUCCESSFULLY  REPULSED. REGIMENT  CON 
TINUES  TO  INTRENCH. THE  ADVANCE  APRIL  2d,  AND 

STORMING  OF  FORT  GRIGG  IN  THE  REAR  OF  PETERS 
BURG. PROMOTIONS  IN  THE  REGIMENT  MARCH  30TH. 

The  night  of  March  30th  was,  in  many  respects,  a 
dreary  one.  The  men  were  wet  and  forced  to  labor 
constantly  without  rest,  in  throwing  up  works  for  pro 
tection.  In  the  morning  the  fight  was  shaprly  com 
menced  by  the  pickets,  and  soon  the  main  line  was 
ordered  out  in  support,  when  the  music  of  bullets  in 
successive  volleys  gave  proof  that  the  rebels  were 
disputing  our  advance  with  stubborn  tenacity.  From 
the  character  of  the  new  men  received  through  the 
winter,  and  that  they  had  never  been  in  a  fight,  a 
strong  guard  was  kept  in  the  rear  of  the  main  line, 
with  strict  orders  to  shoot  all  stragglers.  Capt.  Brown, 
acting  adjutant  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  in  passing 
to  the  rear  to  perfect  his  returns  to  be  made  to  Capt. 
Stowits  as  assistant  adjutant  general  of  the  brigade, 


334        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

drew  his  pistol  and  threatened  to  fire  upon  a  corporal 
of  the  guard,  when  he  was  shot  and  instantly  killed,  a 
sad  fate  to  a  brave,  though  rash  and  impetuous  offi 
cer. 

Steadily  Gen.  Foster's  division  forced  the  rebels  to 
ward  their  main  works.  There  was  sharpshooting  and 
a  number  of  casualties  during  the  day.  We  had  at 
tained  the  edge  of  a  wood  overlooking  the  open  space 
between  us  and  the  rebels.  To  hold  the  position,  trees 
were  felled  and  breastworks  were  soon  rising  in  front 
of  the  exposed  brigade.  The  front  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  New  York  was  undefended.  Capt.  Edwin 
Nichols  was  brigade  officer  of  the  day,  and  Capt. 
Edward  L.  Cook  was  in  charge  of  the  pickets  of  the 
One  Hundredth.  Troops  rested.  The  air  seemed  full 
of  danger  and  battle.  The  Eleventh  Maine  and  Tenth 
Connecticut  lay  on  the  left,  behind,  or  a  little  to  the 
rear  of  the  works.  The  One  Hundredth  on  the  right, 
without  defence,  save  the  picket  line.  It  was  near 
3  A.  M.,  April  1st.  Col.  Dandy  lay  at  the  foot  of  a 
large  tree,  Capt.  Stowits  stood  near,  and  remarked  to 
the  Colonel  that  he  feared  an  assault.  The  Colonel 
responded  to  the  sentiment,  and  ordered  the  bri 
gade  in  line  of  battle.  The  men  had  just  rested 
from  work.  Many  slept.  They  grumbled  loudly 
when  called.  Before  the  brigade  stood  fairly  up,  on 
came  the  "  Johnnies,"  with  that  yell  characteristic. 
Capt.  Stowits  ordered  Maj.  Baldwin,  of  the  Eleventh 
Maine,  to  move  by  the  flank  up  to  the  work,  while  the 
Tenth  Connecticut  and  One  Hundredth  New  York 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        335 

simply  faced  and  moved  right  forward.  As  the 
Eleventh  Maine  reached  the  work,  the  rebels  were 
pouring  over,  firing  a  volley,  wounding  Maj.  Baldwin 
through  the  shoulder.  Said  he,  "  Capt.  Stowits,  this 
is  too  bad,  so  early  in  the  fight."  The  Major  had  just 
returned  from  hospital,  having  been  badly  wounded 
at  Deep  Bottom  the  August  before.  But  he  had 
hardly  fallen  ere  one  steady  volley  from  those  veteran 
regiments  checked  the  leaders  in  the  assault,  and 
piled  their  dead  a  fewr  feet  from  the  outside  of  the 
work,  while  those  who  clambered  over  wrere  made 
prisoners,  and  earnestly  besought  that  they  might  be 
directed  to  the  rear,  out  of  danger  of  the  bullets  of 
their  friends.  It  was  a  timely  repulse.  Had  the 
troops  been  allowed  twelve  or  fifteen  minutes  repose 
longer,  a  large  number  would  have  slept  the  sleep 
that  knows  no  waking. 

Fortunately  for  the  One  Hundredth  the  assault  was 
on  the  front  protected  by  works,  while  their  front  was 
exposed  and  might  have  suffered  loss,  had  not  the  cool 
presence  of  mind  of  Capt.  Cook,  in  charge  of  the 
pickets,  turned  apparent  disaster  into  a  glorious  suc 
cess.  During  the  day  we  had  driven  the  rebels  from 
their  pits  nearer  their  main  line.  The  Captain,  with 
shovels,  had  turned  these  pits,  and  used  them  in  re 
verse  for  the  safety  of  his  pickets.  When  the  rebels 
came  boldly  on,  the  Captain  waited  their  near  ap 
proach,  when  he  gave  the  order  for  a  well  directed 
fire,  which  obliqued  their  advance,  and  sent  them  in 
a  body  against  the  works  in  front  of  the  remainder  of 


336         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

the  brigade,  where  many  quickly  found  rest  in  death 
and  as  prisoners.  Capt.  Cook  was  breveted  major  for 
his  gallantry  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  the  honor 
was  well  merited,  and  caused  joy  to  the  command. 
Capt.  Nichols,  as  brigade  officer,  was  on  the  line,  and 
the  rebels  took  him  prisoner,  stripped  him  of  pistol, 
sword  and  rubber  blanket,  and  had  marched  him  half 
way  to  their  works,  when  the  Captain  turned  and  fled. 
Two  fired  at  him  in  the  darkness  and  missed,  while 
the  Captain  came  into  the  ranks  of  the  One  Hundredth 
greeted  with  cheers  at  his  deliverance.  The  Captain 
denominated  the  act  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  as  "  a 
nice  April  fool."  It  might  have  been  a  sad  morning 
to  the  Third  Brigade,  but  as  it  turned,  it  was  a  grand 
check  of  the  advancing  rebels. 

The  Union  hosts  were  slowly  closing  in  on  the  de 
fenders  of  the  "  lost  cause."  Sheridan  and  Warren,  in 
the  early  morning  of  April  1st,  began  the  disposition 
of  the  forces  for  the  battle  of  Five  Forks.  Humphrey 
at  the  extreme  left  of  Hatcher's  Run,  and  Ord, 
Wright  and  Park  with  their  corps,  respectively,  were 
waiting  the  last  order,  to  leap  into  the  works  of  the 
rebels.  They  had  failed  in  the  permanent  capture  of 
Fort  Steadman,  on  the  Petersburg  front,  and  had  re 
tired  sullenly  and  disheartened.  The  close  of  the  day 
announced  the  complete  triumph  of  Sheridan  and 
Warren  at  Five  Forks.  The  shouts  of  victory  had 
hardly  died  away  in  the  evening,  when,  by  Grant's 
order,  the  Union  guns,  in  position  before  Petersburg, 
were  opened  on  the  Confederate  lines,  from  right  to 


Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.   Volunteers.        337 

left,  from  Appomattox  to  Hatcher's  Run.  All  night 
the  detonating  thunders  of  artillery  continued.  At 
day-break  the  assault  began.  Wright  with  the  Sixth 
Corps,  supported  by  two  divisions  of  Ord's  command, 
assaulted  the  works  at  the  same  time  that  Parke,  with 
the  Ninth  Corps,  had  carried  the  outer  line  on  his  front, 
though  checked  by  the  inner.  Wright  and  Orel  drove 
every  thing  before  them  to  the  Boydton  plank  road,  and 
captured  several  thousand  men  and  many  guns.  Hum 
phrey  advanced  westward  from  Hatcher's  Run,  holding 
the  Union  left,  stormed  and  captured  a  redoubt  on  his 
front,  moved  up  and  took  position  on  the  left  of  the 
Sixth  Corps.  Sheridan  struck  the  south-side  railway 
in  three  points,  and  this  important  line  of  Lee's  com 
munication  was  cut,  and  a  triumph  achieved. 

After  the  check  of  the  rebels  on  the  front  of  the  Third 
Brigade,  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  April,  the  command 
continued  to  intrench  and  make  strong  their  position. 
Sharpshooters  were  busy  during  the  day.  The  bom 
bardment  during  the  night  indicated  to  the  men  the 
work  for  Sunday,  that  of  shortening  the  rebel  line  by 
doubling  it  with  a  successful  assault.  As  stated,  Ord 
ordered  Foster  to  move,  and  on  we  went,  going  over 
and  into  the  enemy's  works  without  much  opposition 
at  that  point,  as  the  line  had  been  broken  at  the  right, 
which  had  communicated  defeat  to  the  left.  Within 
the  line  of  the  rebel  works  the  One  Hundredth  New 
York,  of  the  Third  Brigade,  First  Division,  Twenty- 
fourth  Corps,  contributed  to  the  strength  of  numbers 

which  added  fear  to  certainty  in   the  hearts  of  the 
15 


338         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  &    Volunteers. 

rebels,  that  their  fate  was  sealed  and  their  last  hour 
had  come. 

It  was  a  grand  sight  to  see  the  moving  thousands  of 
the  Union  army  as  they  enveloped  with  a  cloud  of 
blue  the  rear  works  of  Petersburg,  and  prepared  to  as 
sault  Forts  Grigg  and  Alexander.  This  desperate  duty 
was  assigned  to  the  First  Division,  of  which  the  Third 
Brigade  and  One  Hundredth  Regiment  formed  a  part. 
Fort  Grigg,  the  center  fort,  was  a  work  with  a  ditch 
in  front  and  a  stockade  in  rear,  and  was  manned  by 
two  hundred  and  fifty  Mississippians,  who  had  sworn 
not  to  surrender ;  and  so  gallantly  did  they  fight,  that 
when  it  surrendered  only  thirty  effective  men  were 
left. 

The  charge  on  Fort  Grigg  was  the  last  battle  fought 
by  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  and  its  record  on 
that  terrible  occasion  is  enough  to  have  earned  for  it 
all  the  honor  and  glory  that  can  attach  itself  to  any 
body  of  men  in  the  accomplishing  of  so  sanguinary  a 
work,  and  crowning  the  deed  with  glorious  victory. 

The  promotions  of  March  30th,  1865,  were  :  Joseph 
Pratt  to  be  second  lieutenant;  John  S.  .Manning, 
Charles  II.  Waite,  John  Gordon,  to  be  first  lieutenants; 
and  Patrick  Connelly,  and  Jonathan  E.  Head,  to  be 
captains,  all  of  whom  were  in  active  service  in  the 
regiment. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers.        339 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

THE    ASSAULT    OF     FORT    GRIGG    IX    THE    REAR    OF    PETERS 
BURG. THE  WORK  ASSIGNED  TO  THE  FIRST  DIVISION, 

TWENTY-FOURH     ARMY     CORPS.  THE     LOSS    OF     MAJ. 

DANDY    OF    THE    ONE    HUNDREDTH    NEW    YORK. THE 

FORT  TAKEN,  AND  GARRISON  NEARLY  ALL  KILLED 
AND  WOUNDED. THE  PURSUIT  OF  GEN.  LEE. ARRI 
VAL  AT  BURKESVILLE.  PASS  THROUGH  FARMVILLE, 

AND  REACH  THE  REBEL  ARMY  AT  APPOMATTOX.— FIGHT 
ING  THE  LAST  BATTLE. SURRENDER  OF  LEE's  ARMY. 

ITS  PAROLE. NEWS  OF  THE  PRESIDENT'S  ASSASSI 
NATION.  RETURN  MARCH. ENTERING  RICHMOND. 

To  the  First  Division,  as  intimated,  was  assigned 
the  bloody  work  of  assaulting  Fort  Grigg.  The  order 
was  given,  and  that  Sabbath  day  witnessed  one  of  the 
most  stubborn  assaults,  and  most  fiercely  defended 
forts  of  the  war.  For  twenty-three  minutes  did  those 
brave  men  encircle  that  fort,  fill  its  ditches,  cover 
its  parapets,  storming  every  vulnerable  point  in  the 
effort  to  gain  possession  It  was  a  long  time  in  an 
open  field  to  shoot  and  be  shot  at.  Soon  the  moving 
mass,  pressed  by  those  in  rear,  passed  into  the  fort,  and 
victory  was  gained.  The  forts  on  either  flank  were 


34:0         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

evacuated  immediately,  and  the  streams  of  "  gray 
backs,"  as  they  hastened  on,  gave  evidence  of  haste, 
fear  and  dismay.  The  colors  of  the  One  Hundredth 
Kegiment  were  the  first  on  the  parapet  of  the  fort,  fol 
lowed  by  those  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  The  color- 
bearer  of  the  One  Hundredth  was  shot,  and  Maj.  Dandy, 
its  gallant  commander,  in  pressing  forward  to  raise 
the  colors,  was  also  killed,  a  loss  which  the  regiment 
deeply  felt,  and  whose  brief  service  had  endeared  him 
to  his  comrades  in  arms. 

Many  officers  and  men  had  fallen.  The  interior  of 
the  fort  was  a  pool  of  blood,  a  sight  which  can  never 
be  shut  from  memory.  The  rebels  had  recklessly 
fought  to  the  last.  Quickly  the  rear  gun  of  the  fort 
was  turned  upon  the  fugitives.  The  dead  were  buried 
in  trenches  two  and  a  half  feet  in  depth.  The  rebels 
in  one,  and  our  own  troops  in  others,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  each  regiment  of  the  charging  column.  The 
scene  in  and  about  the  fort  was  beyond  description. 
Here,  as  elsewhere,  after  many  a  fight,  the  thought 
would  force  itself  upon  us:  Is  our  country  worth 
these  sacrifices  of  human  life?  Is  it  not  savage  bar 
barism  all?  These  thoughts  could  not  be  repressed 
amid  the  cords  of  dead,  the  fathers,  husbands  and 
brothers  of  loved  ones  waiting  words  from  the  battle 
field  which  would  only  kill  as  the  bolts  of  despair. 
Our  dead  buried,  rations  and  ammunition  issued,  re 
ports  rendered,  and  about  face  \ve  began  the  pursuit  of 
Gen.  Lee.  On  we  marched,  Monday  and  Tuesday, 
creeping  into  Burkesville  late,  with  the  strong  men  in 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        341 

advance  from  companies,  regiments,  brigades  and 
divisions.  Toward  morning  the  weak  and  straggling 
came  staggering  along.  It  was  literally  a  forced 
march.  Lee  must  be  kept  from  going  South,  and 
Grant  held  the  Twenty-fourth  Corps  to  perform  the 
duty  of  intercepting,  and  if  possible  capture  the  Con 
federate  chief. 

We  were  in  time.  The  morning  of  Wednesday, 
April  5th,  was  wet  and  disagreeable.  Railroad  com 
munication  being  secured,  Grant  determined  to  secure 
the  whole  of  what  remained  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  Though  pickets  had  been  thrown  out,  and 
preparation  for  camping  commenced,  orders  came  to 
march.  The  One  Hundredth  JS"ew  York  at  this  place 
were  detailed  to  guard  the  wagon  train,  which  saved 
them  the  danger  of  helping  to  fight  the  last  battle  at 
Appomattox,  imposed  upon  the  Third  Brigade,  First 
Division  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Corps. 

As  the  Twenty-fourth  Corps  reached  High  Bridge, 
near  Farmville,  the  rebels  were  leaving,  and  the 
bridge  was  in  flames.  The  fire  was  extinguished. 
Col.  Dandy,  with  the  Third  Brigade,  was  ordered  five 
miles  beyond  to  hold  a  bridge  crossing  the  Appomattox. 
Having  been  fired,  its  falling  timbers  were  carried 
away  by  the  current,  and  with  two  pieces  of  cannon, 
and  pickets  in  position,  the  brigade  bivouacked  till 
dawn.  It  was  a  cold,  damp  night.  The  morning  sun 
was  a  great  relief  to  the  chilled  and  weary  troops. 
The  rear  guard  of  the  enemy  had  thrown  up  works  on 
an  opposite  hill,  as  we  advanced  ;  and  during  the  night 


342        One  Hundredth  N.  T.  8.   Volunteers. 

our  batteries  were  placed  in  position,  but  at  dawn  the 
rebels  had  fled.  Evidences  all  along  could  be  seen  of 
their  hasty  flight.  Burning  caissons,  ambulances, 
wagons,  and  worn-out  mules,  all  told  of  the  extremity 
and  demoralization  of  Lee's  army. 

Saturday  evening,  April  8th.  Sheridan  captured 
four  trains  of  cars,  thirty  pieces  of  artillery,  one  gen 
eral  and  one  thousand  prisoners,  and  a  hospital  train, 
thereby  snatching  from  Lee  needy  supplies  for  his 
starving  army.  Sheridan  stood  across  his  pathway, 
determined  to  hold  him  until  the  Army  of  the  James 
could  reach  his  front,  and  that  of  the  Potomac  his  rear. 

Gen.  Lee  had  hoped  to  have  broken  through  our 
lines  on  that  eventful  morn  held  by  Sheridan.  The 
flower  of  what  remained  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir 
ginia  was  ordered  to  the  work.  Sheridan  opened  the 
fight.  The  yells  of  the  "  Johnnies,"  the  whistling  of 
bullets,  the  flight  of  driven  cavalry,  demoralized,  hat- 
less  and  weaponless,  told  us,  the  infantry,  that  our 
time  had  come.  At  a  double  quick,  the  First  Divi 
sion,  Twenty-fourth  Corps,  advanced.  Col.  Dandy 
was  in  command  of  the  Third  Brigade,  with  only  the 
Eleventh  Maine  and  Tenth  Connecticut  Regiments. 
Such  had  been  the  speed  of  march,  that  the  Third 
Brigade  was  half  a  mile  in  advance  of  its  left  support 
ing  column.  Col.  Dandy's  aid,  Lieut.  Mason,  had 
been  shot.  Capt.  Hawkins,  inspector  general,  was 
sinking  with  exhaustion.  Gen.  Foster,  riding  up  amid 
a  shower  of  bullets  said,  "  Capt.  Stowits,  make  your 
connection  with  Col.  Fairchild's  brigade  on  your  left 


f 


OSCAR  F.RICHARDS. 

Capl.Co.K.74^  Re£t  N.YSVols, 


Om  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        343 

and  keep  advancing."  Before  the  Captain  could  explain 
tliat  Col.  Fairchild  was  far  in  the  rear,  the  General 
was  gone.  Already  had  Col.  Hill,  of  the  Eleventh 
Maine,  with  most  of  his  command,  been  made  prisoners. 
The  officer  in  command  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  ap 
pealed  to  Capt.  S  to  wits  for  orders.  The  Captain  re 
sponded,  order  your  men  to  lie  down;  if  I  live  I  will 
bring  you  orders.  Col.  Dandy  was  sought  and  found. 
The  situation  was  explained.  The  Colonel  told  the 
Captain  that  he  was  right  to  hold  his  men  till  Col.  Fair- 
child  closed  up.  Anxiously  the  minutes  were  passed. 
The  skirmishers  of  Col.  Fairchild's  brigade  appeared 
in  view.  The  line  of  battle  was  closed,  and  forward 
we  moved.  It  was  our  last  battle,  short,  bloody,  and  the 
end  of  the  war.  As  the  white  nags  came  in,  the  view  on 
either  hand  was  imposing  and  sublime.  The  various 
corps  of  our  army  unfurled  their  flags  and  the  bands 
were  ordered  to  play.  It  seemed  more  as  a  review,  a 
gala  day  for  a  moment,  than  the  exultation  of  a  great 
army,  that  a  long,  bloody  and  desperate  war  had  end 
ed.  The  pitied  remnants  of  that  once  bold  and  de 
fiant  army  were  sad  to  behold.  Long  and  bravely  had 
they  fought  us ;  but  now,  what  a  contrast  to  the  well 
clothed,  well  fed,  and  high  spirited  thousands  of  the 
Union  hosts.  With  an  exhausted  quartermasters'  de 
partment,  an  empty  commissary,  the  rebel  army,  as  a 
power,  was  no  more.  It  only  remained  for  us  to  feed 
them  in  their  needs,  and  illustrate  again  the  maxim, 
u  that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 
The  Confederate  army  was  paroled.  As  they  passed 


344         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

our  camps,  to  look  upon  them  only  excited  charity  and 
pity.  There  were  mutual  congratulations  that  the 
war  had  ended.  Such  had  been  the  rapidity  of  our 
marching  that  all  our  supply  trains  were  deep  in  the 
mud  far  in  the  rear.  We  waited  their  arrival.  From 
the  9th  to  the  17th  of  April  we  waited  orders  and  the 
return  of  one  of  the  divisions  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Corps.  Returns,  and  the  necessary  army  papers  were 
completed,  and  the  army  commenced  its  backward 
movement.  Eeached  Farmville  Tuesday  noon,  April 
18th.  The  road  was  one  miry  bed,  filled  with  the  de 
bris  of  a  pursued  and  pursuing  army.  The  stench  of 
dead  horses  and  mules  was  almost  insupportable. 

At  this,  the  height  of  our  rejoicings,  in  the  rain  and 
mud  waiting  for  orders,  along  the  wires  which  followed 
the  army  in  all  its  movements,  came  the  thrilling  and 
astounding  intelligence  that  President  Lincoln  had 
been  assassinated.  It  could  not  at  first  be  believed. 
But,  as  the  report  settled  into  fact,  and  there  seemed 
to  be  no  doubt  of  the  sad  news,  a  cloud  of  gloom  per 
vaded  the  entire  army.  Our  victories  paled  in  their 
glory,  and  for  the  moment  all  our  fightings  and  suc 
cesses  were  apparently  of  no  significant  value.  But 
in  the  loss  of  the  martyr  President  we  had  the  inspir 
ing  thought  of  a  saved  and  united  nation. 

That  march  of  a  victorious  army  for  Richmond  was 
a  rest  of  mind  to  the  veteran  soldier.  The  best  of  dis 
cipline  was  observed.  The  people  were  evidently 
surprised  at  our  appearance,  so  orderly,  well  clad  and 
respectful  of  the  rights  of  an  enemy. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers.        345 

We  entered  the  city  on  the  morning  of  April  25th, 
after  a  night's  bivouac  at  Manchester,  two  miles  out. 
We  were  received  by  Gen.  Devin's  division  with 
music,  cheers,  and  the  salutations  of  an  exultant 
soldiery.  The  colored  population  were  jubilant.  The 
secession  element  was  sullen,  and  dispirited.  The 
grand  appearance  of  our  army  in  contrast  with  the 
ragged  rebel  soldiery,  told  the  enemies  of  the  nation 
with  what  a  power  they  had  dared  to  measure  arms, 
and  that  they  could  not  but  reap  what  they  had  so 
recklessly  sown — death,  ruin  and  devastation. 
15* 


346        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers, 


CHAPTER  XLVIIL 

THE  ONE  HUNDREDTH  JOINS  THE  BRIGADE  AT  APPOMAT- 
TOX. THE  RETURN  MARCH  TO  RICHMOND. OUR  RE 
CEPTION  BY  THE  RESIDENT  TROOPS.  ENCAMPED 

OUTSIDE     CITY. RECEPTION    OF    SECOND,    FIFTH    AND 

SIXTH  CORPS  AND  SHERMAN^S  ARMY. INCIDENTS  AND 

ROUTINE      OF      CAMP     LIFE. INSPECTIONS      AND     RE 
VIEWS. 

The  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  commanded  by 
Capt.  Nichols,  with  Lieut.  Conry  acting  as  adjutant, 
was  relieved  of  guarding  the  wagon  train  ;  had  joined 
the  brigade,  and  accompanied  us  on  our  return  march 
to  Richmond.  Our  camps  encircled  the  city.  The 
One  Hundredth  lay  in  a  fine  wood  about  two  miles 
out,  near  the  Brook  River  turnpike,  or  between  it  and 
Meadow  Bridge  road.  The  mental  strain  of  alternate 
fears  and  hopes  had  gone,  and  a  reaction  was  apparent 
in  all  the  army.  The  soldier  was  thinking  of  the 
civilian,  and  getting  ready,  in  thought,  to  assume  his 
duties  as  such  as  soon  as  the  grasp  of  the  nation  was 
surrendered.  The  war  was  ended,  and  gradually  the 
national  army  passed  to  their  homes.  The  various 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        347 

corps  were  received  with  honors  as  they  passed  through 
Richmond  on  their  way  to  Washington.  The  arrival 
of  Sherman's  army  was  an  event,  and  well  had  they 
earned  all  the  favors  which  as  a  stationed  corps  we 
could  give  them. 

Col.  Dandy  was  still  in  command  of  the  brigade. 
May  10th  he  left  for  the  Xorth  on  a  leave  of  absence 
for  thirty  days  to  look  after  the  interests  of  his  brother, 
Maj.  James  H.  Dandy,  who  was  killed  at  Fort  Grigg. 

At  this  time,  and  subsequently,  several  promotions 
had  been  made.  Capt.  Warren  Granger  to  be  lieu 
tenant  colonel  from  May  llth,  1865;  Capt,  George 
H.  Stowits  to  be  major,  from  May  31st ;  and  Lieut. 
Henry  W.  Conry,  to  be  captain,  May  31st ;  Lieut. 
Samuel  Ely  to  be  captain,  May  31st ;  Henry  J.  Jones 
to  be  first  lieutenant,  May  31st ;  Joseph  Pratt  to  be 
first  lieutenant ;  and  Frank  Casey  and  Peter  Kelly  to 
be  second  lieutenants,  May  31st,  1865. 

Col.  Greely,  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  the  next 
senior  officer  in  the  brigade,  succeeded  Col.  Dandy  in 
command.  Maj.  Baldwin,  of  the  Eleventh  Maine,  now 
lieutenant  colonel,  who  had  been  wounded  in  the  as 
sault  of  the  rebels  on  the  morning  of  April  1st,  re 
turned,  and  was  heartily  welcomed  by  both  officers  and 
men.  The  Two  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania, 
that  had  been -left  before  Richmond,  March  27th,  now- 
joined  the  brigade,  and  a  camping  ground  was  assigned 
them.  Picketing,  provost  duty  in  the  city,  inspections 
and  reviews  were  the  several  duties  of  regiments,  bri 
gades  and  divisions.  The  city  of  Richmond,  and  its 


348         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers. 

surroundings,  at  this  season  was  beautiful  to  behold. 
It  is  situated  on  the  James  river,  at  the  head  of  naviga 
tion,  with  all  the  exhibitions  of  modern  taste  in  the  de 
signs  of  its  public  and  private  buildings.  There  was  no 
mistaking  the  manifested  pride  of  "  blood  "  and  "  first 
families."  The  best  had  suffered  much  for  the  cause. 
Col.  Dandy  ordered  that  the  headquarters  of  the  bri 
gade  be  located  in  the  front  yard  of  a  rebel  officer,  and 
the  following  dialogue  ensued  between  Capt.  Stowits 
and  the  wife  of  the  rebel  captain.  "  Can  you  mess, 
or  cook  for  the  officers,  the  Colonel  and  staff?  "  "  No  ! 
I  have  no  servants,  no  food,  save  corn  meal,  and  no 
milk,  as  your  troops  killed  my  cows ;  and  my  husband 
has  not  yet  arrived  as  a  paroled  prisoner."  "  Well," 
responded  the  Captain,  "  I  will  furnish  you  with  food, 
servants,  and  whatever  you  may  need  in  the  way  of 
means  and  material."  "  No  !  I  can't  consent."  The 
tents  of  the  various  staff  officers  were  pitched  in  front 
of  the  house,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  this  loyal  lady 
to  the  "  lost  cause."  She  had  three  little  children, 
aged  respectively,  six,  eight  and  eleven  years.  Said 
one,  "Ma  would  not  play  on  the  piano  for  Union 
officers  when  pa  was  away  in  the  army,  for  he  might 
have  been  dead,  sick,  w^ounded  or  a  prisoner ;  but  now 
lie  is  home,  ma  will  play  if  they  desire ;  fatt  I  am  a 
little  rebel  any  how" 

When  our  army  entered  Kichmond  many  remarked 
that  the  statue,  in  Capitol  Square,  of  Washington, 
pointed  in  the  direction  Lee  had  fled  with  his  army  ;  a 
significant  index  of  the  great  desire  of  the  Father  of  his 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers.        349 

country  that  it  should  ever  remain  one  country  and  one 
people,  and  that  treason  and  traitors  should  be  secured 
and  punished.  The  people  seemed  friendly  and  thought 
the  "  Yanks  "  a  fine  looking  people,  and  did  not  ex 
pect  to  see  such  "  heaps  "  of  them,  and  a  "  right  smart 
lot,  too." 

The  receptions  given  the  various  corps  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  also  Sherman's  army,  were  what 
was  due  "  the  boys  in  blue,"  foot  sore,  weary,  bronzed 
and  soil  stained  with  marches  up  from  the  southern 
shore,  the  gates  of  Atlanta,  Savannah,  Charleston, 
Columbia,  through  North  Carolina  to  the  rear  entrance 
of  the  boasted  capital  of  a  would-be  Confederate  gov 
ernment.  With  firm  step,  as  on  a  holiday  review, 
they  marched  through  the  principal  streets  with  guns 
at  a  "  right  shoulder  shift,"  making  the  Richmondites 
feel  that  they  were  a  power,  and  that  they  had  earned 
the  cheers  and  salutes  extended  them  by  their  com 
rades  along  the  line. 

To  the  negroes  the  sight  was  a  feast  of  joy  and  glad 
ness.  In  short  all  classes  seemed  to  gaze  upon  the 
scene  as  one  long  to  be  remembered.  The  weather 
was  delightful,  and  all  nature,  about  the  fire-scarred 
city,  seemed  to  welcome  the  Union  hosts  with  open 
ing  buds  and  expanded  leaves.  Said  a  rebel  officer, 
as  he  looked  upon  the  well  clothed  and  well  appointed 
and  thoroughly  equipped  thousands  of  the  National 
army,  "  We  were  fools  to  continue  resistance  to  such  a 
power  as  seen  in  this  representative  army." 

Lieut.  Col.  Granger  arrived  and  took  command  of 


350        One-  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers. 

the  One  Hundredth,  relieving  Capt.  Edwin  Nichols. 
Yisited  Fair  Oaks  battle  field  with  a  party  from  Buf 
falo,  Messrs.  S.  N.  Welch  and  J.  D.  Shepard.  Details 
were  burying  the  dead  slain  in  the  charge  and  repulse 
of  October  27th,  1864,  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  in  front 
of  the  defences  of  Richmond. 

On  Monday,  May  22d,  visited  the  suburbs  of  the 
city  with  George  Barnum  and  Brown  of  Buffalo. 
Many  visitors  from  the  North  were  in  Richmond  at 
this  time,  and  their  appearance  awakened  the  liveliest 
hopes  in  the  minds  of  the  soldiery  to  return  to  the 
scenes  of  civil  life. 

The  Two  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania  was  or 
dered  to  Lynchburg.  Wednesday,  May  2-tth,  the  Sixth 
Corps  wras  received  as  other  corps  had  been  by  the 
Twenty-fourth  Corps,  as  at  review.  At  this  date 
many  of  the  wives  of  the  officers  of  New  England  reg 
iments  joined  their  husbands,  and  cheerily  enjoyed 
the  rustic  life  and  living  of  their  patriotic  husbands. 
This  peaceful  military  life  was  not  without  its  de 
lights  ;  regular  duties  imperative,  the  music  of  bands, 
parades  and  reviews,  all  gave  stimulus  and  excitement, 
differing  from  the  fears  of  expectant  danger  and  bat 
tle.  The  little  girls  mentioned  became  quite  familiar, 
and  presented  Capt.  Stowits  daily  with  bouquets  of 
choice  flowers,  and  insisting  their  disbelief  that  he  was 
a  Yankee,  since  how  could  he  be  and  treat  them  so 
kindly,  for  had  they  not  been  taught  that  the  Yankee 
was  a  savage,  a  creature  of  untold  monster  character 
istics  ?  Yes,  thus  even  had  childhood  been  perverted 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        351 

in  its  notions  of  that  large  number  of  enterprising,  in 
dustrious  and  loyal  men  that  had  rescued  a  nation  and 
saved  an  element  of  it  from  self-destruction  and  the 
destruction  of  a  government  that  had  given  them  ex 
istence  and  untold  blessings.  Said  the  mother  to  Capt. 
Stowits  :  "  You  have  won  my  children  and  their  favor, 
such  are  the  impressible  natures  of  the  young."  The 
Captain  responded  and  said  :  "  It  is  not  strange.  My 
life  has  been  spent  among  children,  and  I  have  learned 
the  way  through  the  doorways  of  their  frank  and  usu 
ally  unsuspicious  natures." 

During  a  parade  in  front  of  headquarters,  while  the 
national  flags  were  unfurled  and  the  bands  were  dis 
coursing  their  sweetest  music,  the  same  lady  remarked, 
"  that  she  had  thought  she  could  never  again  look  upon 
that  '  old  flag '  with  the  least  degree  of  complacency ;" 
so  deeply  had  they  trodden  out  of  sight,  apparently, 
the  symbols  of  a  great  and  prosperous  people. 


352        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 


CHAPTER  XL1X. 

GEN.  FOSTER,  IN  COMMAND  OP  DIVISION,  OX  LEAVE.  —  GEN. 

OSBOKNE  IN  COMMAND. RETURN  SOLDIERS  FROM  AN- 

DERSONVILLE. LEAVES   OF  ABSENCE   AND  PASSES  TO 

THE  CITY. RESIGNATION  OF  CAPT.  STOWITS. LET 
TER  OF  GEN.  DANDY. APPOINTMENT  OF  CAPT.  COOK 

AS  ACTING  ASSISTANT  ADJUTANT   GENERAL. A  CORPS 

REVIEW  AND  GEN.  GIBBON'S  FAREWELL  ORDER. AR 
RIVAL  OF  THE  ONE  HUNDREDTH  AT  ALBANY,  AND  MUS 
TER  OUT. PRESENTATION  OF  BATTLE  FLAGS  OF  THE 

ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT  TO  THE  BUFFALO  HISTORI 
CAL  SOCIETY,  BY  LIEUT.  COL.  WARREN  GRANGER,  JR. 

Gen.  R.  S.  Foster,  now  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
was  still  in  command  of  the  First  Division.  He  was 
our  pride  as  an  officer,  both  on  account  of  his  soldierly 
bearing  and  qualities,  as  well  as  his  social  and  courte 
ous  manners,  so  much  more  acceptable  to  the  volun 
teer,  than  the  rigid,  formal  and  martinet  formalities 
of  the  United  States  army  officer.  The  General  left 
us  on  leave,  and  Gen.  Osborne  succeeded  him,  another 
one  of  those  desirable  volunteer  generals,  who  was 
universally  liked.  Inspections  and  rumors  of  "  mus- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        353 

ter  out  "  still  continued  almost  daily.  The  "  Board 
of  Trade  men,"  of  1862,  began  to  feel  that  their  hour 
of  departure  was  drawing  near.  The  prisoners  of 
Andersonville  were  coming  in  from  their  long  and  ter 
rible  struggle  with  death  in  that  southern  charnel 
house,  some  little  account  of  which  is  <nven  in  the 

D 

sketch  of  Alfred  Lyth,  one  of  the  committee  in  the 
publication  of  this  work,  and  who  suffered  all  but 
death,  as  did  the  one  hundred  and  forty  men  of  the 
One  Hundredth  Regiment,  confined  in  that  death-pen, 
a  blackened  stigma  upon  southern  chivalry,  and  with 
out  a  precedent  in  the  annals  of  civilized  warfare. 
The  temptation  to  visit  the  city  of  Richmond  was  to 
be  expected,  being  so  near,  and  the  conscious  know 
ledge  that  war  had  ceased,  and  the  old  habits  of  civil 
life  coming  vividly  to  thought,  there  had  to  be  some 
method  in  the  way  of  enjoying  that  coveted  boon. 
Furloughs  were  granted  to  officers  whose  companies 
on  inspection  presented  an  almost  faultless  appearance 
in  cleanliness  of  person  and  equipments.  A  certain 
number  of  passes  were  given  to  enlisted  men  to  go  to 
the  city,  daily,  after  inspection  of  clothing,  guns 
and  accoutrements,  at  brigade  headquarters,  by  Act. 
Asst.  Adjt.  Gen.,  Capt.  Stowits.  Col.  Dandy  received 
hiscomrnission  as  brevet  brigadier  general  of  volunteers, 
for  services  rendered  during  the  war.  Capt.  Stowits, 
feeling  that  his  services  as  a  soldier  were  no  longer 
needed,  sent  in  his  resignation,  May  30th,  and  it  was 
accepted,  and  the  last  entry  made  in  his  military  diary 
was  in  the  following  words :  "  Here  ends  military  rufa 


354        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

and  power  over  me."  The  Captain  left  before  the  ar 
rival  of  Gen.  Dandy,  whom  he  had  served  as  acting 
assistant  adjutant  general  since  his  wounding  and  re 
turn  from  hospital  at  Fortress  Monroe,  October  27th, 
ISGtt.  After  the  arrival  of  the  General  at  Richmond, 
and  the  resumption  of  his  command,  he  addressed  the 
following  letter  to  Capt.  Stowits. 

RICHMOND,  Va.,  June  12th,  1805. 
MY  DEAR  CAPTAIN: — 

On  my  return  here  I  was  extremely  sorry  to  learn  that  you 
had  left  the  service.  Doubtless,  however,  your  private  interests 
required  you  to  take  such  a  step.  I  regret  that  you  did  not  re 
main  until  my  return,  or  at  least  until  your  commission  as  major 
of  the  regiment  had  reached  you.  Be  assured,  Captain,  that  I  shall 
miss  the  services  of  so  efficient  and  gallant  an  officer  as  yourself 
on  my  staff,  and  shall  find  it  difficult  to  replace  you.  With  my 
best  wishes  for  your  future  prosperity,  permit  me  to  subscribe  my 
self, 

Your  sincere  friend, 

GEORGE  B.  DANDY, 
Brig.  Gen  Comd.  Third  Brigade. 
To  Capt.  GEO.  H.  STOWITS, 

late  Act.  Asst,  Adjt.  Gen. 

Previous  to  the  departure  of  Capt.  Stowits,  he  de 
tailed  Capt.  Edward  L.  Cook,  of  the  One  Hundredth 
Regiment,  as  acting  assistant  adjutant  general,  whose 
known  efficiency  as  acting  adjutant  of  the  regiment 
was  a  guarantee  that  the  business  of  the  brigade  would 
not  be  neglected. 

A  few  days  subsequent  to  these  events  a  grand  re 
view  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Corps  was  had,  which  was 
an  event  in  the  history  of  reviews,  for  the  finest  of 
soldierly  displays.  Such  had  been  seen  without  the 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.   Volunteers.        355 

works  of  "Richmond,  as  an  investing  army,  and  it  was 
meet  that  similar  ones  should  be  enacted  within  the 
concentric  circles  of  the  city  defences. 

At  the  review,  Maj.  Gen.  Gibbon  issued  his  parting 
words  to  the  heroes  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Corps. 

HEADQUARTERS,  TWENTY-FOURTH  ARMY  CORPS,      ) 
REVIEW  GROUND,  RICHMOND,  Va.,  June  10th,  1865.  j" 
SOLDIERS  OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  CORPS  : — 

This,  probably,  is  the  last  occasion  upon  which  you,  as  a  corps, 
will  be  assembled. 

Many  of  you  are  about  to  re-enter  civil  life,  to  resume  those 
domestic  duties  which,  by  your  service  in  the  great  cause  of  your 
country,  have  been  so  long  neglected . 

Before  we  separate,  I  desire  to  thank  you,  in  the  name  of  a 
grateful  country,  for  the  service  you  have  rendered  her. 

By  your  discipline,  long  marches  and  hard  fighting,  you  have 
established  for  3rourself  a  name  second  to  none  in  the  army. 

Your  badge  has  become  an  emblem  of  energy,  valor  and  patri 
otism,  and  is  a  source  of  just  pride  to  all  who  wear  it. 

Those  of  you  who  are  entering  civil  life  should  still  wear  it,  on 
all  occasions,  as  an  evidence  to  your  brothers  who  remain  in  ser 
vice  of  your  pride  in  a  badge  made  sacred  by  the  blood  of  so  many 
brave  men,  and  your  disposition,  should  your  country  ever  again 
call  you  to  arms,  to  again  assemble  under  that  proud  emblem,  and 
revive  the  glory  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Corps. 

To  our  comrades  who  are  leaving  the  service  we  pledge  a  kind 
farewell,  and  a  wish  that  their  career  in  civil  life  may  be  as  suc 
cessful  and  prosperous  as  their  military  life  has  been  alike  honor 
able  to  themselves  and  beneficial  to  their  country. 

JOHN  GIBBON, 
Maj.  Gen.  Vols.  Commanding  Corps. 

In  July  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth  and  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-eighth  New  York  regiments  were 
consolidated  with  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  and, 
as  Capt.  Stowits  did  not  muster  as  major,  Frederick  A. 


356        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

Sawyer  was  commissioned  as  major,  mustered,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment  at  Albany  on  its  re 
turn  home. 

After  consolidation,  and  order  for  muster  out,  from 
some  unexplained  cause,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Albany  for  muster  out,  instead  of  Buffalo,  where  a 
majority  of  the  regiment  desired  to  be  sent.  As  most 
of  the  officers  were  of  the  original  regiment,  and 
about  two  hundred  of  the  men,  composed  of  re-en 
listed  veterans  and  what  were  termed  "  Board  of 
Trade  men,"  it  was  hoped  that  they,  at  least,  would 
come  to  Buffalo  in  a  body,  that  the  honor  of  a  recep 
tion  might  be  given  them,  as  their  services  merited. 
The  Board  of  Trade  was  ready,  waiting  any  action  on 
the  part  of  the  members  of  the  regiment,  to  fulfill  their 
obligations,  and  pay  their  respects  to  the  remnants  of 
a  body  ef  men  aggregated  under  their  auspices,  after 
having  done  such  valiant  service  for  country,  a  pride 
to  Buffalo  and  an  honor  to  the  nation.  But  it  was 
otherwise  ordered,  and  on  the  28th  of  August,  1865, 
at  Richmond,  the  regiment  was  discharged,  left  for 
Albany  by  the  way  of  Baltimore  and  New  York  city, 
and  was  noticed  by  the  New  York  press  in  terms  of 
the  most  flattering  character. 

THE  ONE  HUNDREDTH  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEERS. 

The  One  Hundredth  New  York  Volunteer  Regiment,  number 
ing  seven  hundred  and  forty  men,  under  command  of  Brevet  Brig. 
Gen.  George  B.  Dandy,  arrived  in  this -city  yesterday  afternoon 
frcm  Richmond,  en  route  for  Albany,  for  which  place  it  left  early 
in  the  evening.  The  regiment  was  raised  in  Erie  County  in  Jan- 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  X   Volunteers.        357 

uary,  1832,  and  served  in  the  Peninsula  campaign  under  Gen. 
McClellan.  In  March,  1863,  the  regiment  was  sent  to  take  possession 
of  Cole's  island,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Stono  river,  S.  C.,  preparatory 
to  the  siege  of  Charleston.  The  One  Hundredth  Regiment  par 
ticipated  in  the  capture  of  Morris  island,  the  assault  of  Fort  Wag 
ner,  and  in  the  regular  approaches  afterward  made  upon  that 
work,  resulting  in  its  capture,  and  in  which  it  lost  nearly  one-half 
its  men.  In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1864  it  served  with  Gen. 
Butler's  command  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  Drury's  Bluff  and  Deep 
Bottom,  taking  part  in  all  the  engagements  of  that  campaign.  In 
October,  1864,  the  regiment  was  recruited  for  the  third  time,  and 
in  March,  1865,  and  in  the  closing  campaign,  fought  at  Hatcher's 
Run  for  three  days:  participated  in  the  assault  of  Fort  Grigg, 
near  Petersburg,  and  in  the  closing  battle  of  the  war,  at  Appomat- 
tox  Court  House,  at  the  time  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee. 

In  July  last,  the  remnants  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth 
and  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-eighth  New  York  Volunteers  were 
consolidated  with  this  regiment. 

For  special  gallantry  in  the  assault  on  Fort  Grigg,  where  the 
major  commanding  was  killed  on  the  parapet  of  the  work,  the 
colors  of  the  regiment  were  presented  with  a  splendid  eagle  in 
bronze,  bearing  the  following  inscription  : 

"  Presented  to  the  One  Hundredth  New  York  Volunteers  by 
Maj.  Gen.  John  Gibbon,  commanding  Twenty-fourth  Corps,  for 
gallant  conduct  in  the  assault  on  Fort  Grigg,  Petersburg,  Va,, 
April  2d,  186,1" 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  officers,  and  enumeration  of 
the  battles  in  which  the  regiment  had  taken  part : 

Col.  and  Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  George  B.  Dandy ;  Lieut.  Col.  War 
ren  Granger;  Maj.  Frederick  Sawyer;  Surg.  Norris  M.  Carter; 
Asst.  Surg.  Edwin  Schofield ;  First  Lieut,  and  Regimental  Quar 
termaster  George  G.  Barnum.  Co.  "A:"  First  Lieut.  Henry 
Heintz;  Second  Lieut.  Peter  Kelly.  Co.  "B:"  Capt.  Jonathan 
E.  Head;  First  Lieut.  Joseph  Pratt.  Co.  '  C :"  Capt.  Edwin 
Nichols ;  First  Lieut.  Wayne  Vogdes.  Co.  "  D  :"  Capt.  Samuel 
Ely.  Co.  "  E :"  Capt.  Edward  Pratt.  Co.  "  F :"  Capt.  Edward 
L.  Cook,  acting  adjutant ;  First  Lieut.  Henry  Jones.  Co.  "G:" 
Capt.  Jacob  S.  Kittle ;  First  Lieut.  John  S.  Manning.  Co.  "  H :" 
Capt.  Henry  W.  Conry ;  First  Lieut.  John  Gordon.  Co.  "  I :" 
Capt.  Patrick  Connolly.  Co.  "  K :"  First  Lieut.  Charles  H.  Waite. 


358         One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

ENGAGEMENTS. 

Siege  of  Yorktown,  April,  1802  ;  battle  of  Williamsburg,  May  5, 
1862 ;  reconnoissance  to  Seven  Pines,  May  23, 1862  ;  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks,  May  31,  1802;  Bottom's  Bridge,  June  27,  1862;  White  Oak 
Swamp,  June  30, 1862;  Malvern  Hill,  July  1, 1802;  Wood's  Cross 
Roads,  December  12, 1862;  Cole's  Island,  March  31, 1863;  Folly 
Island,  June,  1863;  Morris  Island,  July  10,  1863;  assault  on 
Fort  Wagner,  July  18, 1803 ;  siege  of  Fort  Wagner,  July,  August 
and  September,  1863;  Port  Walthall  Junction,  May  7,  1804; 
Drury's  Bluff,  May  13,  14  and  16, 1804;  Bermuda  Hundred,  June 
20th,  1804;  Grover  House,  June  21,  1804;  Deep  Bottom,  July  27, 
1804 ;  Deep  Run,  August  14, 1804 ;  Fussill's  Mills,  August  10, 1804  ; 
siege  of  Petersburg,  September  29,  1804;  Newmarket  Road,  Octo 
ber  7,  1804 ;  Charles  City  Road,  October  27,  1804 ;  Hatcher's  Run, 
March  30,  31  and  April  1, 1805 ;  Fort  Grigg,  April  2,  1805 ;  Appo- 
mattox  Court  House,  April  9,  1865. 

The  battle  flags  of  the  One  Hundredth  Kegiment 
were  handed  over  to  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society 
for  safe  keeping,  as  the  annexed  note  will  show : 

BUFFALO,  May  1st,  1807. 

WM.  C.  BRYANT,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society : 
SIR  : — Accompanying  this  note,  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit 
to  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society,  for  safe  keeping,  the  eolors  borne 
by  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers  in  the 
campaigns  before  Richmond,  Va.,  under  Butler  in  1804,  and  Grant 
in  1865.  They  are  two  standards :  The  United  States  colors  and 
those  of  the  State  of  New  York.  In  their  torn  and  mutilated 
draperies,  they  bear  memorials  of  many  a  hard  and  well  contested 
field.  In  their  defense  many  a  soldier  of  the  One  Hundredth  laid 
down  his  life.  The  eagle  which  surmounted  the  staff  of  the  State 
colors,  and  which  I  send  with  the  latter,  was  shot  off  by  a  minnie 
ball  in  the  assault  on  Fort  Grigg,  Petersburg,  Va.,  April  2,  1865. 
On  that  occasion  these  colors  were  foremost  in  the  fight,  and  the 
first  planted  on  the  enemy's  works.  They  were  presented  to  the 
One  Hundredth  Regiment  by  the  Buffalo  Board  of  Trade  in  the 
spring  of  1804.  Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

WARREN  GRANGER,  JR., 
Late  Lieut.  Col.  One  Hundredth  New  York, 
nnd  Brevet  Col.  of  Volunteers. 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        359 


CHAPTER  L. 

CLOSING  WORDS. REFLECTIONS  UPON  THE  WAR  SO  SUC 
CESSFULLY  ENDED,  AND  THE  BRILLIANT  AND  HOPEFUL 
FUTURE  OF  THIS  YOUNG  REPUBLIC. 

The  task  is  done.  The  marches,  battles  and  sieges 
in  which  the  One  Hundredth  took  a  prominent  and 
honorable  part  are  recorded  in  the  preceding  pages. 
The  battles  have  been  refonght.  During  the  past 
year  by  night  and  by  day,  have  we  stood  by  the  side 
of  dead  and  wounded  comrades,  and  felt,  oh !  how  in 
tensely,  the  great  sacrifice  of  human  life  for  the  resto 
ration  of  the  Union 

We  have  stood  by  the  side  of  open  graves  on  Morris 
Island,  and  before  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  with 
an  acute  anguish,  as  deeply  felt  in  imagery,  as  when 
the  gloom  of  the  hour  enthralled  us.  Now  AVC  hope 
to  push  the  fact  and  thought  far  into  the  mists  of 
memory,  and  come  up  as  cheerfully  as  we  may  to  the 
consideration  of  the  fruits  and  blessings  of  that  great, 
grand  and  glorious  struggle  for  the  life  and  existence 
of  the  nation. 


360         One  Hundredth  JV.  Y.  /S.  Volunteer*. 

In  the  whirl  of  the  age,  this  great  civil  war  has 
passed  into  the  shadow-land  of  history.  So  recent, 
that  the  grass  has  barely  grown  over  the  graves  of 
thousands  of  the  fallen.  As  a  soldier,  we  were  taught 
to  love  our  country  more.  The  sky,  the  green  earth, 
the  blue  waters,  «//,  are  dearer  to  us  now,  than  when 
we  had  not  this  bitter  lesson  of  sanguinary  war.  AVe 
would  be  pleased  to  veil  from  memory  most  of  the 
events  that  attend  our  thoughts;  but  they  are 
ever  present  as  the  tuition  for  the  practical  lesson  we 
have  learned,  to  value  country  beyond  compare, 
and  daily  teach  the  children  under  our  care  to  love  it 
beyond  words  to  express. 

The  "  unmarked  graves  "  throughout  all  the  South 
appeal  to  us  ;  at  Gettysburg,  Fortress  Monroe,  Ander- 
sonville,  Morris  Island  and  the  Southwest,  speaking 
in  tones  of  thrilling  import: — we  died  that  you  might 
live.  Their  bones  are  bleaching  on  the  isles,  and 
alono-  the  streams,  to  be  remembered  as  the  sacrificed 

O  ' 

for  the  existence  of  the  best  and  freest  government 
the  world  has  ever  seen.  Their  forms  are  ever  present, 
and  their  deeds  are  held  in  grateful  remembrance. 
Our  fates  might  have  been  reversed.  They  might 
have  stood  where  we  stand,  while  we  would  have  been 
known  only  as  they  are  known,  in  praise,  in  story  and 
in  song.  Let  us  not  think  lightly,  nor  undervalue  the 
martyred  dead,  who  have  been  sacrificed  in  a  war 
waged  to  save  and  perpetuate  the  Union  and  every 
star  in  the  "  Dear  Old  Flag."  Thank  God,  they  are 
all  there ;  and  those  of  us,  who  have  survived  the 


One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.  Volunteers.        361 

crimsoned  ordeal,  will  ever  cherish  this  symbol  of  our 
national  unity ;  knowing,  that  when  kissed  by  the 
breezes  of  all  lands,  the  nations  will  feel  and  know, 
that  that  flag  is  the  emblem  of  unity  and  freedom, 
baptized  in  the  blood  of  heroes,  for  its  protection  and 
perpetuity,  while  government  lasts  and  the  living 
millions  are  shadowed  with  its  folds  of  stripes  and 
stars. 

As  a  soldiery  we  are  not  forgotten.     In  the  bustle 

«/  O 

and  strife  of  material  life,  the  soldier  may  often  feel 
that  he  is  neglected,  but  reflection  will  speak  to  him 
the  truth ;  that  it  cannot  be,  as  long  as  memory  lasts 
and  government  exists,  and  these  waters  of -the  lakes 
rest  in  their  cradled  basins,  and  Niagara's  current 
moves  swiftly  along  to  the  cataract's  verge,  w^here  ris 
ing  in  mists  an  incense  is  offered  to  the  Giver  of  all 
blessings,  of  a  nation's  gratitude  for  the  preservation 
of  its  unity,  peace  and  power  forever. 

To  live  the  life  of  a  soldier  does  not  occur  to  the 
citizen  but  rarely  in  the  course  of  a  century,  or  in  the 
life  of  a  nation.  It  has  its  charms,  as  well  as  its  sor 
rows.  As  soldiers  we  tried  to  do  our  duty ;  as  citizens, 
we  rejoice.  Should  foreign  foes,  or  factious  ones  at 
home,  seek  again  the  life  of  the  nation  in  our  day, 
then  the  military  culture  acquired  will  serve  us,  as  in 
the  days  of  the  rebellion. 

As  a  people  may  we  know  war  no  more.  May 
neither  our  children  nor  our  children's  children  ever 
act  its  bloody  drama ;  but  in  its  growth,  enterprise, 
16 


362        One  Hundredth  N.  Y.  8.   Volunteers. 

power  and  vitality,  may  this  youthful  republic  enjoy 
peace  and  freedom  evermore. 

"  Hosaniias  for  a  land  redeemed, 

The  bayonet  sheathed,  the  cannon  dumb ; 
Passed,  as  some  horror,  we  have  dreamed, 
The  fiery  meteors  that  here  streamed, 
Threat'ning  within  our  homes  to  come. 

Again,  our  Banner  floats  abroad, 

Gone  the  one  stain,  that  on  it  fell ; 
And  bettered  by  His  chast'ning  rod, 
With  streaming  eyes  uplift  to  God, 

"We  say :    *  He  doeth  all  things  well.' " 


GEORGE   H,  STOWITS. 

Major  ioo\b  N.Y  Vols. 


APPENDIX. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


IN    MEMORIAM. 


COLONEL   JAMES   MALCOLM  BROWN. 

FURNISHED  BY  HIS  WIFE,  CHARLOTTE  BROWN. 

Colonel  James  Malcolm  Brown,  commander  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  New  York  State  Volunteers,  was  born  in  Dundee,  Scotland, 
on  the  24th  day  of  November,  1825.  In  his  early  years,  the  family 
removed  to  Ortree,  in  the  Isle  of  Skye,  and  in  the  twelfth  year  of 
his  age  they  took  up  their  residence  in  the  city  of  Glasgow. 
Here  he  began  to  develop  those  mental  capacities  which  so  dis 
tinguished  him  in  after  life;  and  after  attaining  the  highest  honors 
in  the  high  school  of  that  city,  he  applied  himself  to  the  study  of 
medicine,  attending  lectures  in  the  medical  college.  Before  he 
had  attained  his  majority  he  left  the  paternal  mansion,  and  came 
to  this  country,  selecting  as  his  residence  the  city  of  New  Orleans, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  until  the  beginning  of  the  war  with 
Mexico,  when  he  entered  the  army  as  assistant  surgeon,  remaining 
with  his  regiment  until  peace  was  declared,  when  he  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  at  Mackinac.  Surg.  Brown  occupied  for  nearly 
eighteen  months  a  tent  with  Lieutenant,  now  President,  Grant.  The 
young  surgeon  then  discerned  hi  the  cool  and  daring  Lieutenant 
the  germs  of  those  remarkable  qualities  which,  in  their  develop 
ment,  were  destined  to  achieve  such  momentous  results  in  the 
future  of  our  country ;  and  that  long  afterward,  during  the  first 
year  of  the  rebellion,  before  our  great  commander  had  proved  him- 


364  Appendix. 

self  capable  of  accomplishing  those  mighty  deeds  which  have  ren 
dered  his  name  famous,  Col.  Brown  had  often  predicted  to  his 
intimate  friends,  that  Grant,  if  he  lived,  would  be  one  of  the  great 
est  generals  of  our  times !  The  practice  of  medicine  does  not  seeni 
to  have  been  in  accordance  with  the  tastes  and  temperament  of  Mr. 
Brown,  for  we  find  him  a'fter  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war  a  student 
in  the  law  office  of  Messrs.  Harvey  &  McReynolds,  of  Detroit,  Mich., 
who  were  among  the  leading  attorneys  of  that  city.  Here  he  applied 
himself  with  the  utmost  diligence  to  the  study  of  his  new  profes 
sion,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  that  State  in  the  year  1851. 
On  the  15th  of  January,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Charlotte 
Cook,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  Cook,  formerly  a  physician  of 
Argyle,  N.  Y.;  and  in  the  summer  of  1853  he  removed  to  James 
town,  N.  Y.,  where  his  widow  with  her  three  sons  now  reside. 
Here  he  became  a  partner  of  the  Hon.  Madison  Burnell,  since 
deceased,  who  was  then  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  Chautauqua 
county,  and  John  F.  Smith,  who  afterward  became  colonel  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers,  a 
brave  officer,  who  fell  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Fisher. 

Mr.  Brown  practiced  with  good  success  as  a  member  of  the 
above  firm,  and  also  on  his  own  responsibility,  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion  in  the  spring  of  18C1.  When  the 
echoes  of  the  guns  of  Sumter  reverberated  throughout  the  land, 
proclaiming  to  the  loyal  citizens  of  the  North  that  a  civil  war  was 
inevitable,  the  soul  of  our  hero  was  eager  for  the  strife  which  he 
knew  must  speedily  begin.  The  proclamation  of  President  Lin 
coln,  calling  for  seventy-five  thousand  volunteers,  met  with  no 
readier  or  more  enthusiastic  response  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  loyal  portion  of  the  country,  than  in  the  town  where 
Mr.  Brown  resided.  Before  any  of  his  townsmen  had  had  time  to 
consider  what  was  the  first  thing  to  be  done,  Mr.  Brown  raised  his 
standard  and  called  for  recruits  to  form  a  company.  Many  of  the 
most  respectable  young  men  of  the  town  enlisted  under  his  com 
mand,  and  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time,  one  hundred  and 
twelve  men,  more  than  the  full  complement,  were  enrolled. 

The  commission  of  James  M.  Brown,  as  Captain  of  Co.  "  B," 
Seventy-second  Regiment,  was  the  first  one  applied  for,  and  issued 
in  Chautauqua  county,  during  the  rebellion,  and  his  company  was 
the  first  one  to  depart  for  the  seat  of  war.  The  citizens  vied  with 
each  other  in  their  efforts  to  promote  the  welfare  and  comfort  of 


Appendix.  365 

the  men,  previous  to  their  departure,  and  that  there  might  be  no 
delay,  busied  themselves  in  providing  uniforms  and  subsistence; 
and  when  the  day  of  departure  came,  advanced  the  means  of  trans 
portation  to  New  York.  The  ladies  industriously  worked  to  pre 
pare  food,  haversacks  and  comfortable  underclothing,  and  wrought 
with  their  own  hands  a  beautiful  silken  flag,  which  they  presented 
to  the  company.  Upon  its  arrival  at  New  York,  it  was  attached  to 
Gen.  Sickles'  brigade,  and  ordered  to  encamp  at  Staten  island. 
Capt.  Brown  remained  in  command,  preparing  his  men  for  the 
stern  duties  of  a  soldier's  life,  and  bringing  his  company  into  a 
condition  of  high  discipline,  during  the  summer  of  1861,  when  he 
was  ordered  home  on  recruiting  service. 

It  appears  that  his  fine  soldierly  bearing  as  an  officer,  and  his 
evident  military  abilities,  had  attracted  the  attention  of  Gen. 
Scroggs,  then  recruiting  at  Buffalo  for  the  Eagle  Brigade,  who 
offered  Capt.  Brown  the  colonelcy  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment, 
wrhich  was  attached  to  the  brigade  awaiting  its  full  complement  of 
men.  Capt.  Brown  accepted  the  position,  and  his  resignation  as 
captain  of  Co.  "B"  having  been  accepted,  on  the  5th  of  Novem 
ber,  1861,  he  proceeded  to  Buffalo  to  assume  the  command  of  his 
regiment.  Carrying  with  him  the  same  prompt  and  resolute  dis 
position,  he  determined  on  making  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment 
effective  in  the  shortest  possible  time,  and  taxed  their  energies  to 
the  utmost,  in  order  that  his  command  might  excel.  His  own  in 
defatigable  spirit  became  reflected  in  every  soldier,  and  he  wron 
their  utmost  confidence  in  him  as  an  able  and  competent  leader. 
When  his  regiment  entered  into  active  service  he  lived  as  the 
others  lived,  slept  on  the  cold,  wet  ground,  ate  soldiers'  rations, 
and  in  all  regards  endured  the  hardships  of  the  campaign  like  the 
privates.  He  bore  all  privations  without  murmuring  for  himself, 
but  not  without  feeling  keenly  for  his  men.  At  Seven  Pines  he 
was  in  the  saddle  and  his  regiment  under  arms  ere  the  order 
reached  him.  He  led  them  into  action  with  that  stern  joy  which 
warriors  feel  when  going  out  to  battle.  Through  the  former  part 
of  the  fight  he  sat  quietly  on  his  horse,  a  conspicuous  target,  calmly 
smoking  his  pipe,  except  when  giving  orders  or  executing  a  move 
ment.  When  the  action  grew  hot  as  Hades,  he  raged  up  and  down 
the  line  encouraging  the  men  by  voice  and  example,  his  lion  cour 
age  aroused,  the  light  of  battle  in  his  eyes,  a  soldier  terrible  in  his 
splendid  bravery.  When  came  that  fatal  order  to  charge,  he  was 


366  Appendix. 

heard  to  denounce  the  order,  it  was  his  duty,  with  death  staring 
them  all  in  the  face,  to  execute.  Here  came  out  one  of  the  finest 
traits  of  the  soldier.  For  one  instant  looking  straight  forward  at 
inevitable  disorder  and  rout,  he  cried  out  in  his  great  lion-like  voice 
"  Charge  the  One  Hundredth !"  Officers  and  men  saw  the  trap  into 
which  they  were  moving ;  but, 

"Their' e  not  to  make  reply, 
Their's  not  to  reason  why, 
Their's  but  to  do  and  die  ; 
Though  some  one  had  blundered," 
On  went  the  One  Hundredth. 

The  history  of  that  fight,  of  the  noble  devotion  and  courage  of 
Col.  Brown,  and  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  is  written  on  the 
bosom  of  mother  earth,  in  the  mounds  that  are  scattered  over 
the  field  of  Seven  Pines.  A  braver  gentleman  than  Col.  Brown 
never  lived.  His  body  lies  unknown  in  some  mound  on  the  field 
of  that  terrible  fray ;  but  his  memory  will  live  in  the  hearts  of  his 
countrymen,  who  honor  bravery  and  worth,  so  long  as  the  pen  of 
history  shall  inscribe  the  noble  deeds  of  chivalry. 

His  memory  is  fondly  cherished  in  the  beautiful  village  where 
he  resided.  Camp  James  M.  Brown  is  the  name  of  a  field  which 
was  the  mustering  place  of  two  noble  regiments,  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Twelfth  and  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth  regiments  of 
New  York  Volunteers,  that,  in  1862,  went  forth  from  Jamestown 
to  battle  for  the  nation's  life ;  and  Post  James  M.  Brown,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  is  formed  of  the  surviving  heroes  of  the 
war  who  are  residents  of  the  town.  Year  after  year,  upon  "  dec 
oration  day,"  they  repair  to  the  cemetery,  in  the  outskirts  of  the 
town,  to  participate  in  the  touching  and  beautiful  ceremonies  of 
the  day ;  and  a  mound  is  always  erected  in  memory  of  the  brave 
Colonel  which  fair  hands  tenderly  decorate  with  flowers. 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  PIIINEAS  STAUNTON. 

Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  was  the  son  of  Major  General  Phineas,  and 
Mrs.  Mary  Staunton,  early  settlers  of  Wyoming  county,  in  this 


Appendix.  367 

State.  Gen.  Staunton  was  a  prominent  officer  in  the  war  of  1812, 
was  an  intimate  friend  of  Gen.  Peter  B.  Porter,  the  author  in  Con 
gress  of  the  war  measure  against  England,  and  with  him  was  in 
timately  indentified  with  the  early  progress  of  New  York.  The 
parents  of  Col.  Staunton,  judged  by  all  that  is  known  of  them,  and 
by  the  revelation  that  he  has  given  of  them  upon  canvass,  were 
persons  of  royal  natures  and  of  commanding  characters.  Col. 
Staunton  was  born  September  24th,  1817,  and  inherited  a  love  of 
country  and  a  love  of  military  life.  His  father  being  a  prominent 
officer  in  the  war  of  1812,  distinguished  himself  in  several  important 
battles  by  his  heroism  and  command  over  men.  After  the  declar 
ation  of  peace,  he  was  chosen  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia  of 
Western  New  York,  with  a  commission  as  major  general.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen,  Col.  Staunton  held  a  position  as  staff  officer  with 
the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel  of  militia.  Nature  designed  and  fitted 
him  for  an  artist,  and  a  great  and  good  artist  he  was.  And  yet, 
while  it  was  true  that  all  the  forces  within  him  culminated  in  his 
profession,  he  was  not  thereby  disqualified,  like  many  persons  en 
dowed  with  special  gifts,  for  the  practical  duties  of  life  in  other 
directions.  Completely  enveloped  in  the  holy  flame  of  art,  he 
could  instantly  drop  his  palette  and  grasp  his  sword,  when  liberty 
was  assaulted  in  his  native  land.  He  could  throw  his  whole  soul 
into  the  scale  of  politics,  if  it  seemed  to  him  that  the  beam  was 
likely  to  go  down  on  the  side  of  injustice  and  oppression.  He 
could  leave  his  studies  and  join  his  brethern  in  the  church  as  de 
votedly  as  the  best.  When  in  command  of  his  regiment  he  was 
both  chaplain  and  superior  officer. 

During  the  winter  of  1860  and  1861,  Col.  Staunton,  while  en 
gaged  in  his  profession  in  the  city  of  New  York,  became  so  im 
pressed  with  the  conviction  that  a  war  with  the  South  was  inevi  - 
table,  that,  unknown  to  his  friends,  he  joined  a  class  composed  of 
volunteers,  which  met  three  times  a  week  to  study  military  tactics 
and  drill,  under  the  instruction  of  Col.  Tornpkins.  In  the  spring 
of  1861,  after  the  capture  of  Fort  Sumter,  he  felt  that  the  time  had 
arrived  for  him  to  enter  the  ranks  of  the  defenders  of  the  "  old 
flag."  He  returned  home,  to  LeRoy,  Genesee  county,  and  im 
mediately  commenced  to  recruit  volunteers  for  a  company  of  in 
fantry.  This  company  was  raised  by  his  efforts,  joined  with  those 
of  Capt.  Walter  B.  Moore,  and  became  Co.  "  B  "  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  New  York  State  Volunteers. 


368  Appendix. 

The  record  of  Col.  Staunton  and  his  services  can  be  traced  in 
the  pages  of  this  work  from  the  entry  of  the  regiment  in  the  field 
to  his  resignation,  October  llth,  1862,  at  Gloucester  Point,  Va. 
The  cause  of  his  resignation,  and  the  loss  of  his  services  to  the 
country  at  that  hour,  was  the  appointment  of  George  B.  Dandy  as 
colonel  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  which  was  rightfully  due 
to  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton. 

Col.  Staunton  subsequent!}*"  joined  a  scientific  expedition  to  South 
America,  and  died  at  Quito  Ecuador,  September  5th,  1867.  He 
was  Vice  Chancellor  of  Ingham  University,  LeRoy,  N.  Y.,  a  man 
revered  by  his  friends,  and  honored  by  all  favored  with  his  ac 
quaintance. 


MAJOR  JAMES  II.  DANDY. 

Major  James  H.  Dandy,  who  fell  in  the  charge  on  Fort  Grigg, 
near  Petersburg,  April  3d,  1865,  was  the  brother  of  Gen.  G.  B. 
Dandy,  colonel  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment.  Through  his 
brother  he  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant,  November  24th, 
1862,  and  introduced  into  the  regiment  at  Carolina  City,  N.  C. 
Being  assigned  to  Co.  "  B,"  he  remained  till  June,  1863,  when  he 
was  detailed  in  the  commissary  department  at  Hilton  Head, 
where  he  was  commissioned  a  captain,  September  5th,  1863,  and 
subsequently  a  brevet  major.  December  9th,  1864,  he  was  com 
missioned  major,  joined  the  regiment  and  assumed  command, 
March  27th,  1865,  on  the  eve  of  our  departure  from  the  front  be 
fore  Richmond,  and  to  the  left  at  Hatcher's  Run,  thence  into  the 
assault  on  Fort  Grigg,  where  he  was  shot,  near  the  parapet  of  the 
work,  in  an  attempt  to  recover  the  colors  as  they  fell  from  the 
hands  of  the  color- bearer,  who  had  been  shot  an  instant  before. 

Before  going  into  the  charge  he  said  to  Capt.  Stowits,  "  I  feel  as 
though  I  shall  be  killed,  take  my  money,"  as  he  had  just  been  paid, 
and  this  was  his  first  fight.  The  Captain  responded  :  "  It  is  not 
strange  that  you  should  thus  feel ;  but  if  you  wish,  give  it  to  the 
surgeon,  as  I  shall  be  in  nearly  as  great  danger  in  forming  the  line 
for  advance  as  yourself."  His  presentiment  was  a  fact.  He  was 
slain,  a  young,  brave  and  gallant  officer.  The  few  days  that  he  had 
commanded  the  regiment  had  endeared  him  to  the  hearts  of  all. 


Appendix.  369 

He  was  subsequently  breveted  lieutenant  colonel,  and  the  follow 
ing  action  of  the  members  of  Psi  Upsilon  Fraternity  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  University,  of  which  he  was  an  honored  member,  will  tell 
of  his  merits  and  the  value  of  his  memory. 

WHEREAS,  We  have  received  the  pad  announcement  of  the  death  of  our  hon 
ored  brother,  Major  James  H.  Dandy,  who  fell  at  the  capture  of  Fort  Grigg,  on 
the  2d  of  April,  in  command  of  his  regiment,  the  One  Hundredth  New  York, 
while  planting,  in  person,  his  victorious  flag  upon  the  stronghold  he  had  con 
quered;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That,  though  we  had  fondly  hoped  to  welcome  him,  safe  from  all 
perils  of  battle  to  the  paths  of  peace  again,  we  humbly  bow  in  submission  to 
this  grievous  dispensation  of  a  Providence  whose  goodness  we  may  not  doubt. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  unselfish  devotion  of  our  esteemed  brother  to  the  com 
mon  cause  of  God  and  humanity— in  his  generous  fidelity  to  every  relation  of 
home  and  of  country— in  his  consistent  morality  and  genial  social  qualities, 
which  made  so  many  friends  and,  now,  so  many  mourners,  we  find  much  that 
is  richly  worthy  of  emulation. 

Resolved,  That  we  are  justly  proud  of  the  enviable  reputation  he  achieved  by 
his  manly  and  soldierly  bearing,  and  the  cool  yet  brilliant  courage  which 
marked  his  entire  military  career  and  met  its  coronation  in  his  last  brave  deed ; 
and  that  the  goodly  record  of  his  life,  always  so  spotless,  so  noble,  and  laureled, 
now  at  last,  ^  ith  the  high  eulogium, 

•'  Dead  on  the  field  of  honor," 

shall  not  be  forgotten,  but  cherished  as  a  precious  legacy. 

Resolved,  That  with  becoming  respect  for  the  sacredness  of  their  sorrow  we 
sincerely  tender  to  the  bereaved  relatives  and  friends,  in  this  time  of  grief,  our 
best  and  warmest  smypathies. 

Resolved,  That  we  drape  our  badges  for  the  period  of  thirty  days  in  token  of 
our  regard  for  our  brother,  thus  sadly  yet  nobly  fallen  on  the  bright  margin  of 
a  victory,  whose  gates,  we  trust,  swing  open  on  the  courts  of  peace. 

Resolved,  That  copies  of  these  resolutions  be  transmitted  to  the  family  and 
friends  of  the  deceased,  and  to  the  several  chapters  of  the  fraternity. 

WILLIAM  V.  KELLY, 
WELLESLEY  W.  BOWDISH, 
E.  IRVING  RACKETT. 
Wesleyan  University.  April,  1865. 


CAPTAIN  MICHAEL  BAILEY. 

BY  MAJOR  D.  D.  NASH. 

Capt.  Michael  Bailey,  who  served  with  the   One   Hundredth 
Regiment  as  captain  of  Co.  "  E,"  and  who  died  as  lieutenant  col- 
16* 


370  Appendix. 

onel  of  a  Buffalo  regiment  of  the  army  raised  in  the  Fenian  ser 
vice  for  the  liberation  of  Ireland,  was  born  in  the  year  1822,  in 
Queens  county,  Ireland,  where  he  was  reared  by  parents  of  the 
better  class  of  the  intelligent  farmers  of  that  highly  favored  portion 
of  his  native  isle. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  1840,  he  left  home  and  its  endear 
ments,  having  from  his  boyhood  learned  to  love  America,  its  in 
stitutions  and  consequent  blessings.  He  landed  first  in  New 
Brunswick,  where  he  learned  the  lucrative  trade  of  a  ship-carpen 
ter,  and  subsequently  came  to  Buffalo,  which  has  since,  until  the 
time  of  his  death,  been  his  home,  and  where  by  his  industry  he 
had  accumulated,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  a  handsome  property, 
nearly  all  of  which  he  freely  gave  in  the  service  of  his  adopted 
and  native  countries.  In  185G,  Co.  "  E,"  Emmett  Guards,  of  the 
Seventy-fourth  Regiment,  was  organized,  and  he  was  elected  cap 
tain.  In  1861,  during  the  month  of  September,  he  recruited  Co. 
"  E,"  One  Hundredth  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers,  at  almost 
entirely  his  own  expense.  He  served  as  captain  until  the  fall  of 
18G3,  when  he  was  unnecessarily  quarrelled  out  of  the  regiment  by 
his  superiors  in  rank,  who  were  determined  to  accomplish  that 
heartless  result.  Seldom  did  an  officer  leave  his  charge  with  so 
much  regret,  nor  with  so  creditable  a  war  record.  At  Fair  Oaks 
he  was  taken  prisoner,  struggling  heroically,  with  a  detached  com 
mand,  to  hold  a  vastly  superior  force  of  the  enemy  in  check,  sur 
rounded  by  his  fighting  Irishmen,  who  looked  upon  him  as  a  father 
as  well  as  a  leader.  After  his  release  from  prison  he  participated 
with  cheerful  alacrity  in  the  many  campaigns,  battles  and  discom 
forts  of  the  regiment  up  to  the  time  of  his  resignation,  and  never 
will  the  writer  forget  the  bravery  and  tact  with  which  he  assisted 
in  encouraging  and  directing  the  decimated  ranks  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  in  that  fatal  night  assualt  upon  Fort  Wagner,  as  the  men 
passed  through  the  ditch,  nor  his  indomitable  pluck  in  the  terrible 
work  of  driving  the  enemy  into  their  bomb  proofs,  after  the  para 
pet  had  been  scaled,  and  while  the  writer  was  prostrate  by  a 
wound,  and  only  able  to  suggest,  generally,  such  movement  as 
seemed  necessary.  Capt.  Bailey  was  one  of  the  finest  specimens 
of  the  intelligent,  chivalrous,  generous  Irish  gentlemen,  to  whom 
neither  fear  nor  dishonor  were  known ;  and  never  was  one 
mourned  by  a  larger  circle  of  friends  than  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  died  in  Buffalo,  January  17th,  1868,  indirectly  from  a 


Appendix.  371 

wound  received  in  the  chest  at  Fort  Erie,  June  2d,  1866,  while  en 
gaged  in  capturing  a  detachment  of  British  troops,  landed  for  his 
defeat.  May  the  green  isle  send  us  more  such  patriots  as  Capt. 
Bailey,  whose  memory  will  remain  cherished  as  the  flag  he  loved, 
and  the  cause  for  which  he  gave  his  life. 


CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  RICHARDSON. 

Capt.  William  Richardson  was  a  member  of  Co.  "  D,"  raised  by 
Col.  Payne,  of  Tonawanda,  N.  Y.,  and  was  a  resident  of  that 
town  when  he  enlisted  as  a  volunteer.  His  faithfulness  in  the  dis 
charge  of  duty,  his  independent  spirit  and  reliable  courage  soon 
earned  his  rapid  promotion.  He  was  commissioned  second  lieu 
tenant  December  23d,  1862,  while  the  regiment  lay  at  Gloucester 
Point,  Va.  A  few  days  previous  to  the  taking  of  Morris  island, 
July  4th,  1883,  he  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant,  and  April 
14th,  1864,  just  before  the  departure  of  the  regiment  from  Mor 
ris  island,  he  was  commissioned  captain,  as  a  reward  for  devo 
tion  to  duty,  and  his  success  as  an  officer  and  soldier  in  the  dis 
charge  of  duty. 

In  the  battle  of  Walthall  Junction,  on  the  Bermuda  front,  the 
perils  of  Drury's  Bluff,  the  taking  of  Deep  Bottom,  where,  in  com 
mand  of  the  reserves,  in  July,  1864,  in  an  advance  upon  the  rebel 
lines,  he  was  shot,  Capt.  Richardson  was  always  the  courageous, 
bold  and  self-possessed  soldier.  He  was  shot  July  27th,  1864.  An 
attempt  was  made  to  recover  his  body,  but  failed.  It  was  said  that 
he  did  not  die  instantly,  but  lingered  and  died  from  the  wound, 
and  was  buried  by  the  enemy.  His  loss  to  the  regiment,  at  that 
time,  was  sorely  felt,  and  could  not  be  repaired.  This  steady  and 
dangerous  service  of  the  regiment  was  fatal  to  both  officers  and 
men,  and  large  numbers  during  the  summer  of  1864  were  lost  to 
the  service  and  the  country. 


CAPTAIN  FRANK  C.  BRUNCK. 

Capt.  Brunck  was  the  son  of  Doctor  Brunck  of  this  city,  an 
able  editor,  an  eloquent  speaker,  and  widely  honored  among  both 


372  Appendix. 

our  German  and  American  citizens.  The  Captain  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Buffalo,  October  24th,  1841.  He  was  educated  in  our  pub 
lic  schools,  and  also  attended  the  central  school,  at  that  time  in  its 
infancy,  as  an  experiment.  Subsequently  he  learned  the  trade  of 
a  printer,  and  was  at  work  in  the  Courier  office  of  this  city  at  the 
commencement  of  the  war.  He  decided  to  enlist  as  a  volunteer, 
and  began  to  solicit  recruits  for  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  and 
was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  February  7th,  1862,  while  in 
camp  at  Fort  Porter. 

His  career  as  a  soldier  is  fully  recorded  in  the  body  of  this  work. 
With  the  regiment,  he  passed  through  the  ordeal  of  the  Peninsula 
campaign,  did  nobl}T  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  as  well  as  in  the 
seven  days'  fight  on  the  retreat  to  Harrison's  Landing.  While  at 
Gloucester  Point,  Va.,  he  was  commissioned  captain,  November 
24th,  1862,  and  from  that  date  to  the  time  of  his  muster  out,  Jan 
uary  9th,  1865,  he  was  known  as  the  steady,  firm,  resolute  and 
courageous  soldier.  On  Morris  Island,  at  Walthall  Junction, 
Drury's  Bluff,Bermuda"Hundred,  Deep  Bottom,  Deep  Run,FussiH's 
Mills,  Petersburg  and  on  the  Richmond  front,  Capt.  Brunck  fully 
sustained  his  reputation  as  a  tried  and  competent  soldier.  His 
time  of  service  having  expired,  he  was  ordered  to  Jamestown 
Island,  Virginia,  in  command  of  what  remained  of  the  original  One 
Hundredth  Regiment,  save  the  re-enlisted  veterans.  From  thence 
to  Buffalo  the  detachment  was  sent,  paid  and  mustered  out,  their 
work  having  been  well  and  nobly  performed. 

Captain  Brunck  remained  in  Buffalo  until  the  summer  of  1866, 
when  he  received  an  appointment  as  second  lieutenant  in  the 
Fifteenth  Regiment  of  United  States  Infantry,  stationed  at  Fort 
Morgan,  Alabama.  He  was  commissioned,  March  5th,  1867,  with 
rank  from"  July  28th,  1866.  Shortly  after  the  death  of  the  first 
lieutenant,  from  yellow  fever,  the  Captain  received  from  the  War 
Department  an  appointment  as  first  lieutenant,  dated  October  7th, 
1867,  to  take  effect  from  the  27th  day  of  August,  1867,  subject  to 
the  confirmation  of  the  Senate.  In  one  month  from  the  date  of 
his  appointment,  November  7th,  1867,  he,  too,  was  a  victim  of 
that  scourge  of  the  South,  the  yellow  fever,  and  his  career,  so  au 
spiciously  commenced,  was  ended,  a  sad  bereavement  to  his  pa 
rents  and  friends,  though  softened  by  the  knowledge  that  he  had 
ever  served  his  country  well. 


Appendix.  373 

LIEUTENANT  JOHN  W.  WILKESON,  JR., 

AND  BREVET  CAPTAIN  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEERS. 

Lieut  Wilkeson  was  in  command  of  Co.  "  K  "  at  the  battle  of 
"  Fair  Oaks,"  and  with  Col.  Brown  and  Lieut.  Kellogg,  was  killed 
in  the  execution  of  that  fatal  order,  which  decimated  the  ranks  of 
the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  and  sent  to  prison,  hospital  and  the 
grave  so  large  a  number,  that  the  existence  of  what  was  once  a 
large  and  efficient  regiment,  was  deemed  precarious  and  uncertain. 
The  biographical  history  of  this  chivalric  young  officer  has  been 
fully  and  ably  set  forth  hi  an  article  that  appeared  in  the  columns 
of  the  Commercial  Advertiser,  subsequent  to  the  date  of  that  tragedy, 
of  the  31st  of  May : 

THE  LATE  LIEUT.  WILKESON. 

"  How  loved,  how  valuer!  once,  avails  thec  not ; 
To  whom  related,  or  by  whom  begot, — 
A  heap  of  dust  alone  remains  of  thec, 
'T  is  all  thou  art,  and  all  the  proud  shall  be." 


'"  Now  cracks  a  noble  heart.    Good  night,  dear  friend, 
And  flights  of  angels  sing  thee  to  thy  rest. 


"  Lieut.  John  W.  Wilkeson,  commanding  Co.  '  K,'  One  Hun 
dredth  Regiment  New  York  State  Volunteers,  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  while  gallantly  leading  his  company  in 
the  foremost  fight.  He  died  in  the  defence  of  his  country,  May 
31st,  1862. 

"  To  those  who  were  strangers  to  Lieut.  Wilkeson,  the  above 
simple  announcement  will  speak  more  eloquently  than  measured 
eulogy.  To  them  we  have  nothing  to  say  in  addition.  But  to 
those  who  knew  and  loved  him,  we  feel  that  it  will  be  grateful,  we 
know  that  it  will  be  fitting  in  us,  to  pay  to  his  memory  the  passing 
tribute  of  affectionate  regard.  We  have  known  him  as  boy  and 
man  through  his  whole  life,  and  were  temporarily  associated  with 
him  upon  the  field.  We  came  to  know  him  well,  and  knowing, 
loved  him.  Hence  we  feel  impelled  to  record  our  feeble  testimony 
to  his  worth  and  virtues. 

"  Lieut.  Wilkeson  was  born  in  this  city  in  August,  1834,  and  was 
the  eldest  son  of  our  fellow-townsman,  John  Wilkeson,  Esq.  He 


Appendix. 

received  his  preliminary  education  at  Phillips  Academy,  Andover, 
Mass.,  and  subsequently  became  a  graduate  of  Union  College. 
He  afterward  engaged  in  the  study  of  law,  in  this  city,  and  after 
his  admission  to  the  bar,  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Upon  the  break 
ing  out  of  the  rebellion,  he  raised  a  company  of  Sappers  and 
Miners  for  Col.  Baker's  California  Regiment.  Upon  ascertaining 
that  the  company  could  not  be  accepted,  as  such,  it  was  abandoned, 
and  Lieut.  Wilkeson  returned  to  this  city  and  connected  himself 
with  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  then  being  organized  here,  as 
first  lieutenant  of  Co.  '  K.'  He  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  and  continued  to  the  moment  of  his  death  thoroughly  im 
bued  with  a  sense  of  the  great  responsibilities  of  his  position,  and 
was  untiring  and  assiduous  in  their  performance.  His  labors  in 
this  regard  were  rendered  much  more  arduous,  and  at  times  almost 
overwhelming,  by  the  long-continued  sickness  and  absence  of  the 
other  company  officers.  From  the  time  the  regiment  left  this  city, 
till  his  death,  he  was  almost  constantly  in  command  of  his  com 
pany,  and  for  a  time,  was  the  only  commissioned  officer  with  it. 
Though  of  slender  frame,  and  apparently  of  feeble  endurance,  he 
yet  went  successfully  through  the  terrible  marches  and  privations 
which  attended  the  advance  to  Richmond.  Though  suffering  from 
severe  sickness,  at  one  time  fainting  with  exhaustion,  at  another 
supported  by  his  men  at  the  head  of  his  company,  he  managed  to 
keep  with  them,  sustained,  according  to  his  own  language,  '  by  a 
determined  will,  necessity,  quinine  and  God's  grace.' 

"  Lieut.  Wilkeson  was  the  grandson  of  the  late  Hon.  Samuel 
Wilkeson,  one  of  the  founders  of  this  city,  and  inherited  many  of 
the  remarkable  mental  characteristics  of  his  grandfather.  Like 
him  he  was  undemonstrative,  intensely  earnest  and  persistent  in 
everything  he  undertook.  He  acted  almost  entirely  upon  convic 
tions  of  duty,  and  not  from  impulse.  Quiet  and  unobtrusive  in  his 
manners,  he  was  yet  eminently  genial,  refined  and  affectionate. 
With  strong  likes  and  dislikes,  he  was  at  once  a  faithful  friend  and 
a  generous  and  forgiving  enemy.  In  the  daily  walks  of  life  he 
was  unusually  exemplary  without  being  ascetic  or  ostentatious. 

"  Lieut.  Wilkeson  was  a  patriotic  and  devoted  soldier.  He  fought 
for  his  country  with  the  purest  motives,  and  with  an  unfaltering 
trust  in  God,  which,  we  do  not  doubt,  went  far  toward  making  him 
a  perfectly  brave  man.  In  a  recent  letter  to  his  brother — also  in 


Appendix.  375 

the  army — he  says,  '  God  our  Father  sparing  us,  trust  in  him. 
Pray  everywhere  in  a  colloquial  way!  All  our  best  friends  have 
gone  before,  or  are  fast  going,  and  what  matters  it  for  them  or  us 
how  soon  we  go  ?  It  will  be  right,  since  it  will  be  God's  will,  and 
if  I  do  not  see  you  again  here,  we  must  meet  in  the  spirit  world.' 
Again  he  said,  '  We  shall  have  fought  hard  before  this  reaches 
you,  and  perhaps  from  the  rolls  of  the  'Hundredth'  my  name  will 
be  dropped.  I  hope  so,  rather  than  that  I  should  fail  to  show 
pluck  and  marked  bravery.  Pray  that  I  may  not  fail.'  His  dead 
body,  now  lying  buried  upon  the  field  of  battle,  testifies  mutely 
that  he  did  not  fail,  but  possessed  that  rare,  modest  courage  which 
distrusts  itself  while  it  feels  no  fear. 

"  He  has  gone,  and  his  gentle  face  and  lion  heart  are  turned  from 
us  forever  toward  the  infinite.  The  beauty  of  his  life  and  the  glory 
of  his  death  s'.iall  blend  harmoniously,  not  only  in  making  up  the 
record  of  his  earthly  fame,  but  in  initiating  a  brighter  glory  in  a 
brighter  world.  He  now  walks  amid  the  green  pastures,  by  the 
banks  of  the  river  of  eternal  life,  side  by  side  with  the  loved  ones 
who  had  gone  before." 

"  The  grave  itself  is  but  a  covered  bridge, 
Leading  from  light  to  light  through  a  brief  darkness.1" 

His  motives  for  entering  the  service  of  his  country  are  most  gra 
phically,  truthfully  and  tersely  given  in  a  letter  to  his  brother,  an 
extract  of  which  is  here  given  : 

"I  made  up  my  mind  after  cool  deliberation,that  it  was  my  duty  to  go.  One  fights 
for  a  god-like  principle.  It  is  the  blessed  American  liberty  which  was  the  fruit 
of  all  time,  painfully  produced  from  the  struggle— so  long  protracted— which 
gave  birth  to  Protestant  freedom— later  so  nobly  preserved  and  re-asserted  by 
our  father!?,  and  which  now  meets  its  old,  old  enemy,  Despotism,  in  its  blackest 
and  most  treacherous  form.  It  must  not  perish,  for  it  is  the  only  hope  for  poor 
humanity,  whose  despairing  eye  is  on  us— the  only  hope  for  the  pure  faith  in 
God's  truths  now  threatened  with  a  deadly  eclipse.  All  this,  and  more,  stands 
threatened,  should  the  damning  slave  despotism  conquer  ns,  for  will  not  the 
human  intellect  and  our  moral  natures  die  without  hope  of  resurrection  ?  So, 
dear  brother,  we  can,  if  needs,  die  for  as  precious  truths  as  ever  led  martyrs  to 
a  burning  stake,  and  the  man  who  dare  not  seal  his  faith  with  his  blood,  de 
serves  not  to  have  enjoyed  these  blood-bought  favors  of  ours.  We  must  all  die 
soon.  There  is  no  fear  in  death  for  the  man  who  is  true  to  his  best  impluses, 
and  never  fails  his  country;  for  God  loves  freedom,  truth,  and  freemen;  and 
fighting  for  these,  you  fight  his  battles.  lie  himself  will  place  the  laurel  chap- 
let  on  the  faithful  warrior's  head.  Sam.,  '  trust  in  God,  and  keep  your  powder 
dry.'  God  bless  you  ;  we  may  meet  on  the  bloody  field,  or  perchance  not  till 
we  rest  from  our  labors ;  in  either  case,  all  will  be  wett." 


370  Appendix. 

"What  more  need  be  said.  The  words  from  the  pen  of  this  early 
martyr  on  the  altar  of  country,  will  live  in  the  memory  of  all  who 
read,  and  his  motives  for  bearing  arms  in  defence  of"  father  land" 
will  shine  clearer  and  clearer  upon  the  printed  page,  as  the  years 
roll  away,  and  these  truths  find  lodgement  hi  the  hearts  of  the 
saved  youth  of  our  blessed  land. 


LIEUTENANT  CHARLES  SEVERANCE  FARNHAM. 

BY  MAJOR  D.   D.   NASH. 

Lieut.  Farnham,  the  nephew  and  adopted  son  of  Thomas  Farn- 
ham,  Esq.,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Cazenovia, 
Madison  county,  N.  Y.,  May  29th,  1838.  His  father,  a  lawyer  by 
profession,  died  a  few  months  previous  to  his  birth.  His  uncle,  the 
Hon.  Luther  Severance,  an  editor,  representative  in  Congress  from 
Maine,  and  commissioner  of  the  United  States  Government  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  died  within  a  few  years  subsequent  to  his  birth, 
which,  added  to  the  loss  of  an  invaluable  friend  in  the  person  of  his 
grandfather  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  left  young  Farnham  wholly 
dependent  upon  his  widowed  mother.  His  grandfather,  Col.  Elisha 
Farnham,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Madison  county,  and 
served  with  a  Madison  county  regiment  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  in  the 
war  of  1812.  After  these  sad  losses,  he  removed  with  his  mother  to 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  to  reside  with  Thomas  Farnham,  by  whom  he  was 
adopted,  being  a  prominent  business  man  of  the  city.  His  uncle 
with  great  liberality  gave  him  the  benefits  of  a  preparatory  and 
collegiate  education,  and  he  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1850, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  He  engaged  with  his  foster  father 
in  business,  but  still  devoted  his  leisure  hours  to  his  favorite  pur 
suits,  chemistry,  geology  and  mineralogy.  Fired  with  patriotism, 
he  was  ready  to  avenge  the  first  insult  upon  our  flag,  and  was  only 
deterred  by  the  opposition  of  his  friends,  who  knew  his  delicate 
organization.  Having  finally  overcome  all  this,  he  was  commis 
sioned  second  lieutenant  of  Co.  "  A,"  One  Hundredth  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  detailed  as  aid  to  Gen.  Scroggs,  with  whom  he  re 
mained  at  Fort  Porter,  until  ordered  to  his  regiment  by  Col.  James 


Appendix.  377 

M.  Brown,  March  22d,  1862,  just  as  McClellan  commenced  his 
memorable  Peninsula  campaign.  He  joined  his  company  at 
Washington,  March  25th.  Previous  to  his  departure  he  was  pre 
sented  by  the  young  men  of  Buffalo  with  a  sword  and  sash,  ac 
companied  with  a  complimentary  note,  signed  by  the  donors. 
Soon  after  his  arrival,  the  One  Hundredth  leaving,  he  joined  the 
regiment,  and  was  taken  slightly  ill  on  the  9th  of  April,  and  on  the 
16th  of  April,  a  very  warm  day,  he  was  compelled  to  fall  out,  Co. 
"A"  marching  as  advanced  guard  for  twenty-two  miles.  From 
that  time  he  continued  to  grow  worse,  and  the  symptoms  of  that 
terrible  malady,  the  Peninsula  fever,  as  it  was  called,  exhibited 
themselves.  Although  he  received  the  best  care  his  many  friends 
could  bestow  amid  their  oppressive  duties,  and  under  the  disad 
vantages  occasioned  by  the  short-sighted  management  of  the  busi 
ness  affairs  of  the  army  at  that  early  period,  which  left  us  nearer 
the  point  of  starvation  than  ever  after,  still  he  continued  to  fail, 
and  when,  May  5th,  the  regiment  left  camp  to  pursue  the  flying 
enemy,  it  was  thought  his  end  was  near,  which  occurred  without  a 
struggle,  on  the  12th  day  of  May  at  Yorktown,  after  his  removal, 
which  could  have  been  but  illy  endured  by  one  much  less  afflicted, 
or  in  perfect  health.  His  body,  a  few  days  afterward,  was  disin 
terred  and  brought  to  Buffalo,  by  his  bereaved  foster  father,  and 
his  heart-stricken  mother,  who  had  strained  every  nerve  to  reach 
him  in  his  sickness.  Thus  one  martyr  fell,  the  first  sacrifice  of 
commissioned  officers  of  the  regiment,  soon  to  be  followed  by 
scores  of  men  and  officers.  His  country  lost  in  him  one  of  great 
promise.  Lieut.  Farnham,  cultivated,  liberal  and  genial,  with  great 
dignity  of  character,  had  endeared  himself  to  all  of  our  regiment, 
and  to  hosts  of  friends  and  acquaintances  in  Buffalo,  at  school,  at 
the  home  of  his  mother  in  Syracuse  and  in  his  native  village.  The 
"  Tigers"  of  this  city  escorted  his  remains  to  the  grave,  where  he 
was  followed  by  his  relatives,  to  whom  this  loss  was  a  most  crush 
ing  blow,  and  by  one  of  the  largest  and  most  saddened  concourses 
the  city  beheld  during  the  war.  He  was  so  anxious  to  have  helped 
to  push  forward  to  its  final  glorious  triumph  the  cause  of  unity 
and  resistance  to  rebellion.  To  us,  who  heard  of  his  death  during 
that  terrible  struggle  of  pushing  the  enemy  through  the  swamps  of 
the  Peninsula,  the  news  occasioned  a  perfect  heart  chill,  while  we 
wished  that  he  could  have  fallen,  if  fall  he  must,  in  the  fight,  where 
his  tall  form  and  brave  heart  would  have  been  a  tower  of  strength 


378  Appendix. 

to  the  men,  to  whom  he  had  become  attached  without  effort,  and 
by  whom  his  grave  will  be  strewed  by  flowers,  as  long  as  life  per 
mits  the  sad  and  friendly  office. 


LIEUTENANT  SAMUEL  8.  KELLOGG. 

Lieut.  Kellogg  came  to  Buffalo  from  the  central  part  of  New 
York,  and  was  engaged,  previous  to  the  study  of  the  law,  as  a 
teacher  with  marked  success.  In  adopting  Buffalo  as  his  home, 
he  entered  the  office  of  L.  P.  Perkins,  Esq.,  where  he  pursued  the 
studies  of  his  profession  with  a  characteristic  diligence  evinced  by 
him  in  whatever  he  undertook.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  Lieut.  Kellogg  had  acquired 
a  respectable  law  practice ;  but  the  needs  of  the  government  and 
that  patriotic  fervor  which  controlled  all  temperaments  similarly 
organized,  urged  him  into  the  service  of  his  country.  He  was 
commissioned  as  first  lieutenant,  February  7th,  1862,  and  became 
identified  with  the  fortunes  of  the  One  Hundredth.  He  encount 
ered  with  his  fellow  officers  the  exposures  and  deprivations  of  the 
Peninsula  campaign,  and  was  able  at  the  front  to  participate  in  that 
fatal  fray  of  Fair  Oaks,  and  there  seal  his  patriotism  with  his  blood 
with  Col.  Brown  and  Lieut  Wilkeson,  the  first  offering  of  the  regi 
ment  upon  the  altar  of  country. 

Lieut.  Kellogg,  as  a  civilian,  was  regarded  as  a  mind  of  more  than 
ordinary  power,  and  would  grasp  with  an  intuitive  quickness  prin 
ciples  which  required  long  and  severe  study,  often,  when  attempted 
by  ordinary  minds.  In  common  with  hundreds  and  thousands, 
lie  fell  an  early  martyr  to  the  cause  of  unity  and  a  strong  govern 
ment.  His  death  at  Seven  Pines  commenced  and  ended  his  mili 
tary  career,  short,  brilliant  and  decisive. 


LIEUTENANT  RODNEY  B.  SMITH,  Ju. 

Lieut.  Rodney  B.  Smith,  Jr.,  was  the  son  of  Rodney  B.  Smith,  of 
Smith's 'Mills,  Hanover,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.      His  father 


Appendix.  379 

being  the  main  business  man  of  the  place,  was  engaged  in  mill 
ing,  a  store,  farming  and  whatever  stood  incidentally  connected 
with  any  of  the  occupations  mentioned.  His-  son,  Rodney  B.  Smith, 
Jr.,  was  a  helper,  a  sort  of  general  clerk,  in  whatever  department 
of  his  father's  business  his  services  were  needed.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  November  28th,  1839.  He  enlisted  and  was 
commissioned  as  first  lieutenant,  February  7th,  1862,  and  assigned 
to  Co.  "  H."  He  is  spoken  of  as  a  young  man  of  promising  ability 
and  had  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  admirers  as  well  as  the  many 
personal  associates  of  his  youth.  He  had  endured  with  remarkable 
resistance  the  effects  of  the  march  along  the  Peninsula,  had  reached 
and  passed  through  the  perilous  time  of  the  31st  of  May,  but  was 
obliged  to  give  over  to  the  power  of  the  malarial  fever,  then  pros 
trating  so  many  strong  and  able  bodies,  rendering  them  unfit  for 
the  duties  of  camp  and  army  service.  Lieut.  Smith,  sick  with  fever, 
was  sent  to  Savage  Station,  and  in  the  retreat  from  Bottom's 
Bridge,  and  the  execution  of  that  order  of  Gen.  McClellan's  that 
all  ambulances  should  leave  empty,  and  that  all  the  sick  that  could 
walk  should  make  their  way  to  the  James  river,  it  is  supposed  that 
he,  with  others,  had  started,  lost  his  way,  and  died  from  exposure,  or 
some  other  cause,  as  he  was  never  heard  of  after  the  movement 
began.  Like  Col.  Brown,  his  grave  is  unknown,  which  helped  to 
add  to  the  thousands  of  "unknown  and  unmarked"  graves  through 
out  the  South.  The  memory  of  his  youth  and  manhood  are  kept 
fresh  and  green  in  the  hearts  of  his  friends,  with  the  loyal  thought 
that  he  died  for  country,  a  sacrifice  on  its  altar  for  unity  and  free 
dom. 


ADJUTANT  HERBERT  H.  HADDOCK 

Adjt.  Haddock  was  born  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  July 
8th,  1839,  and  attended  our  public  schools.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
removed  to  Hudson,  O.,  and  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  the  Wes 
tern  Reserve  College,  until  1857,  when  he  returned  to  Buffalo.  At 
the  age  of  twenty  he  united  with  the  North  Presbyterian  Church, 
Dr.  Chester  being  the  pastor.  Before  enlisting  as  a  volunteer,  he 
was  employed  as  a  book-keeper  for  C.  P.  Churchill,  grocer  of  this 


380  Appendix. 

city.  Mr.  Churchill  says,  that  lie  was  one  of  the  most  expert  and 
reliable  clerks  he  has  ever  seen,  lie  comprehended  the  details  of 
business  with  an  accuracy  and  clearness  which  intimated  a  suc 
cessful  future  as  a  business  man  should  his  power  be  turned  in  that 
direction.  He  entered  the  field  as  a  soldier  with  the  same  enthusi 
asm  that  characterized  him  as  a  civilian.  He  was  commissioned 
second  lieutenant,  February  7th,  1862.  He  left  the  city  with  the 
regiment,  passed  through  the  Peninsula  campaign,  and  while  the 
One  Hundredth  Regiment  lay  at  Gloucester  Point  he  was  commis 
sioned  first  lieutenant  and  adjutant,  November  24th,  1862.  At  the 
time  of  the  departure  of  the  regiment  from  Gloucester  Point,  the 
last  of  December,  for  North  Carolina,  Adjt.  Haddock  was  sick  with 
typhoid  fever  and  did  not  join  the  regiment  till  the  following 
March,  at  St.  Helena  island,  where  he  relieved  Lieut.  Leopold 
Evert,  who  had  been  acting  as  adjutant  during  his  absence.  He 
entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duty  with  his  usual  vigor  and  in 
telligence,  accompanied  the  regiment  to  Cole's  and  Folly  islands, 
then  to  the  taking  of  Morris  island,  July  10th,  and  subsequently 
with  the  regiment  into  the  charge  on  Wagner,  July  18th,  where  he 
was  killed,  closing  his  career  as  an  efficient,  courageous  and  es 
teemed  soldier.  He  was  missed  at  guard  mounting,  dress  parade 
and  the  adjutant's  office.  His  military  calls  at  officers'  quarters, 
and  his  daily  passage  through  the  company  streets,  was  ever 
hailed  as  an  evidence  of  a  " move"  or  some  welcome  or  umvel- 
come  duty  which  had  to  be  performed,  with  which  the  adjutant 
was  not  associated  as  a  cause  but  simply  as  an  instrument  of  mili 
tary  authority.  His  loss  was  keenly  felt  by  officers  and  men,  as 
his  rare  qualifications  fully  capacitated  him  for  the  arduous  duties 
entrusted  to  his  charge. 


LIEUTENANT  CHARLES  H.  RUNCKLE. 

Lieutenant  Runckle  was  of  German  descent.  Military  with  him 
was  an  enthusiasm.  He  was  connected  with  the  Sixty-fifth  Regi 
ment  of  this  city,  and  had  many  acquaintances.  He  recruited  a 
number  of  men,  and  with  them,  under  promise  of  a  commission,  he 
joined  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment.  He  enlisted  as  a  private 
September  15th,  1862.  He  was  soon  promoted  to  corporal.  His 


Appendix.  381 

commission  was  delayed  till  December  20th,  18G2,  when  he  was 
assigned  to  Co.  "  H."  He  was  at  Carolina  City,  Hilton  Head,  St. 
Helena,  Cole's  and  Folly  islands,  and  accompanied  the  regiment  in 
the  taking  of  Morris  island,  and  was  killed  in  the  assault  on  Battery 
Wagner,  July  18th,  1863.  Young  and  brave,  with  a  limited  ac 
quaintance  in  the  regiment,  he  passed  away,  and  with  hundreds 
will  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  sacrificed  in  the  attempt  to  take 
by  assault  a  fort  which  proved  an  almost  unyielding  obstacle  to 
the  advance  of  the  National  Army. 


LIEUTENANT  AZOR  HILTON  HOYT. 

Lieut.  Azor  Hilton  Hoyt  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
October  14th,  1842,  and  was  nearly  nineteen  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  enlistment  in  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  in  this  city. 
An  elaborate  and  amplified  sketch  of  the  life  and  merits  of  Lieut. 
Hoyt  has  been  kindly  furnished  us,  and  we  are  very  sorry  that  we 
can  only  find  space  for  a  few  extracts,  which  will  give  our  readers 
a  limited  view  of  his  character  as  a  man  and  soldier.  "  He  en 
listed  as  a  private  in  Co.  '  I,'  One  Hundredth  Regiment  N.  Y.  S. 
Vols.,  but  wron  his  way,  step  by  step,  by  constant  devotion  to  the 
service  and  by  his  undaunted  courage.  His  was  a  mind  of  rare  in 
tellectual  endowments,  acknowledged  by  all  who  had  his  personal 
acquaintance.  He  was  a  vigorous  writer  and  a  close  student.  His 
letters  published  in  the  Times,  Tribune  and  other  New  York 
papers,  at  various  periods  during  the  war,  reveal  a  remarkable 
power  of  description,  a  fine  imagination  and  a  cultivated  mind. 
He  was  a  printer  by  profession,  and  among  his  comrades  was  re 
garded  with  honor  and  affection.  In  the  regiment  he  won  the  love 
of  his  fellow  soldiers,  which  they  testified  by  the  presentation  of  a 
sword  and  belt  on  the  occasion  of  his  promotion  to  a  lieutenancy. 
This  presentation  was  accompanied  by  the  gift  of  a  beautiful  and 
costly  sash  by  Thomas' McElrath,  Esq.,  of  the  New  York  Tnbune. 
Many  friends  in  New  York  proposed  to  present  him  with  a  sword, 
but  their  gift  was  pleasantly  forestalled  by  the  men  of  his  own 
company.  He  was  a  prisoner  at  Richmond,  and  spoke  generously 
of  his  captors,  attributing  their  apparent  cruelty  rather  to  circum- 


382  Appendix. 

stances  than  design.  He  was  exchanged  and  returned  to  his 
regiment."  In  a  skirmish  on  the  line  in  front  of  the  works  of  Fort 
Darling,  May  14th,  1864,  Lieut.  Hoyt  was  wounded,  from  which  he 
died  near  the  field  of  action,  May  16th,  and  was  borne  by  his  com 
rades  into  camp  and  buried  as  described  in  the  body  of  this  work. 
This  closed  the  career  of  a  young,  hopeful  and  brilliant  mind,  an 
early  victim  and  a  sacrifice  upon  the  altar  of  country  and  glory. 


LIElJtENANT  CYRUS  BROWN. 

Of  Lieut.  Brown  we  know  but  little.  He  was  commissioned 
December  23d,  1862,  as  second  lieutenant.  He  was  a  positive 
character,  and  changed  his  ideas  only  when  thoroughly  convinced. 
He  was  a  firm  and  consistent  patriot,  a  lover  of  right  and  a  firm 
advocate  of  suppressing  rebellion  by  force  of  arms.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  charge  on  Wagner,  July  18th,  1863,  and  died  at 
Port  Schuyler,  August  13th,  1863.  His  loss  was  sincerely  felt  by  a 
large  circle  of  comrades. 


LIEUTENANT  JAMES  H.  FRENCH. 

Lieut.  French,  before  enlistment  as  a  private  soldier,  had  long 
and  successfully  taught  one  of  the  public  schools  of  this  city.  As 
a  teacher,  he  was  competent,  able  and  widely  known  among  the 
members  of  the  profession.  He  was  a  disciplinarian  of  the  first 
rank,  and  managed  children  with  a  skill  born  of  intuition  and  a 
common-sense  judgment.  As  a  writer  for  the  press,  and  as  a  re 
porter  often  of  the  deliberations  of  educational  meetings,  he  was 
terse,  vigorous  and  comprehensive.  Lieut.  French  enlisted  in  the 
summer  of  1862,  August  4th,  and  joined  the  regiment  at  Gloucester 
Point,  Va.  His  enlistment  was  under  the  auspices  of  the  Buf 
falo  Board  of  Trade.  For  one  year  he  served  as  a  common 
soldier,  and  did  his  duty  nobly  and  manfully.  At  Carolina  City, 
Hilton  Head,  Cole's  and  Morris  islands,  he  was  ever  the  same  duti- 


GUSTAVUS   A.SCROGGS. 

i     General  U.S.Vols. 


Appendix.  383 

fill,  estimable  and  intelligent  soldier.  October  7th,  18G3,  he  was 
commissioned  as  second  lieutenant,  while  the  regiment  was  on 
Morris  island.  As  an  officer,  he  was  estimated  more  at  his  true 
value.  His  literary  ability  as  a  private  had  no  opportunity  for 
general  advantage.  He  was  complimented  by  the  commander  of 
the  "  post"  for  an  ably  written  defence  of  a  fellow  officer,  who  had 
been  unjustly  arrested,  in  consequence  of  wyhich  the  officer  was 
discharged.  His  company  was  sought  for  solid,  social  entertain 
ment.  Through  the  winter  and  spring  on  Morris  island  and  with 
the  transfer  of  the  regiment  to  Gloucester  Point  and  to  Bermuda 
Hundred,  and  into  the  fight  at  Walthall  Junction,  and  at  Drury's 
Bluff,  where  he  was  wounded  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  May, 
1864,  Lieut.  French  was  ever  the  same,  valuable  and  patriotic  officer. 
He  had  fought  his  last  battle.  Being  wounded  in  the  leg,  he  was 
taken  prisoner,  carried  to  Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  where  he  suf 
fered  amputation,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died,  May  22d,  1864. 
He  had  well  represented  his  profession  as  a  sterling,  brave  and 
loyal  soldier,  and  sealed  his  patriotism  with  his  life. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 

OF  SURVIVING  OFFICERS  OF  THE  ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT,  OF 
THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  TRADE  AT  THE  ADOPTION 
OF  THE  REGIMENT,  WITH  A  SHORT  SKETCH  OF  THE  BOARD  OF 
TRADE  OF  BUFFALO  FROM  ITS  ORIGIN  TO  THE  PRESENT. 


BRIGADIER  GENERAL  GUSTAVUS  A.  SCROGGS. 

Gen.  Scroggs  was  born  August  8th,  1820,  in  the  village  of  Dar 
lington,  Beaver  county,  Penn.  He  is  of  Scotch  descent.  His 
father,  Gen.  John  A.  Scroggs,  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylva 
nia,  a  prominent  politician,  member  of  the  legislature  several 
times,  candidate  of  his  party  for  State  Senator  and  Member  of 
Congress,  held  office  of  commissioner  and  prothonotary  of  Beaver 
county,  was  brigadier  general  of  militia,  and  by  occupation  a  tan 
ner  and  farmer. 


384  Appendix. 

In  1837  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  an  applicant  lor  an  ap 
pointment  to  West  Point,  and  failed.  In  1840  an  appointment  was 
forwarded,  but  was  declined  in  consequence  of  studies  preparatory 
to  the  study  of  law.  Entered  the  office  of  the  Hon.  N.  P.  Fetter- 
man,  as  a  law  student,  at  Beaver,  Penu.  Taught  school  at 
times,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  law  in  1844,  and  had  fair  suc 
cess.  The  loss  of  his  father  the  same  year  left  a  mother  and  four 
sisters  dependent  upon  the  energies  of  young  Scroggs  for  support. 
It  was  a  hard  struggle,  as  all  young  men  know  in  like  circum 
stances.  Went  to  Newcastle,  Mercer  county,  Penn.,  and  practiced 
law  for  two  years.  In  November,  1848,  came  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  Benjamin  II.  Austin,  where 
he  has  resided  ever  since. 

Politically  Gen.  Scroggs  was  ever  strong  anti-slavery.  Origi 
nally  a  democrat,  he  became  a  member  of  the  American  party, 
and  was  their  candidate  for  lieutenant  governor.  In  the  union  of 
the  American  and  republican  parties  in  1858,  Gen.  Scroggs  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Erie  county  by  a  majority  of  four  thousand  five 
hundred.  As  a  delegate  of  the  American  party,  at  Baltimore,  in 
1800,  he  withdrew  from  the  convention  on  the  ground  that  the 
nomination  of  Bell  was  in  the  interest  of  slavery,  and  supported 
Lincoln  and  Hamliu,  and  has  since  acted  uniformly  with  the  re 
publican  party. 

His  tastes  were  strongly  military.  Previous  to  coming  to  Buffalo 
he  had  raised  and  commanded  the  "  Washington  Artillery,"  a  com 
pany  of  uniformed  militia,  and  also  a  like  company  at  Newcastle, 
till  his  leaving  for  Buffalo,  in  1848.  After  his  arrival  in  Buffalo,  he 
was  elected  Captain  of  Co.  "  B,"  Sixty-fifth  Regiment  New  York 
State  Militia.  In  1851  he  was  elected  colonel  of  the  same,  and 
subsequently  brigadier  general  of  the  Thirty-first  Brigade.  Re 
mained  in  command  of  brigade  till  his  election  as  sheriff  of  the 
county.  At  the  opening  of  the  rebellion  he  published  a  call  in  the 
newspapers  of  the  city  for  a  meeting  to  raise  volunteers.  As  a  re 
sult  six  companies  were  raised  which  helped  to  form  the  Twenty- 
first  Regiment  New  York  State  Volunteers.  The  remaining  four 
companies  were  mainly  formed  from  the  Seventy-fourth  Regiment. 
In  August,  1801,  he  was  authorized  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to 
raise  a  brigade  of  four  full  regiments  of  volunteers,  as  stated  in  the 
opening  of  this  work.  In  July,  1802,  he  was  appointed  brigadier 
general  of  volunteers,  and  was  assigned,  by  order  of  the  Secretary 


Appendix.  385 

of  War,  in  Special  Orders,  No.  155,  War  Department,  July  7th,  18G2, 
to  a  command  in  Maj.  Gen.  Bank's  army  corps.  He  was  not 
confirmed  as  brigadier  general.  April  16th,  1863,  he  was  appointed 
provost  marshal  of  the  Thirtieth  District  of  New  York,  comprising 
Erie  county,  with  headquarters  at  Buffalo.  Organized  the  office 
and  made  the  first  draft  under  great  difficulties.  Gen.  Scroggs  re 
signed  the  office  of  provost  marshal  to  accept  the  command  of  the 
Twenty-fifth  Regiment  of  United  States  colored  troops,  in  the  lat 
ter  part  of  January,  1834.  The  object  of  the  appointment  is  ex 
plained  in  the  following  letter : 

"  EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  February  6th,  18&4. 
"Maj.  Gen.  N.  P.  BANKS: 

"The  bearer,  Gen.  G.  A.  Scroggs,  of  Buffalo,  has  been  appointed  colonel  of  a 
colored  regiment,  and  is  to  report  with  it  to  you  at  New  Orleans.  The  object 
of  moving  in  this  matter  is  to  have  Col.  Scroggs  sent  by  you,  with  his  regi 
ment,  to  Texas,  charged  to  collect  and  organize  the  colored  men  of  that  State,  it 
being  believed  that  such  a  nucleus  as  this  regiment,  and  such  an  experienced 
organizer  of  troops  as  Col.  Scroggs  has  shown  himself,  will  prove  highly  suc 
cessful.  I  hope  this  purpose  will  meet  with  your  approval,  and  that,  by  such 
orders  as  your  judgment  will  dictate,  you  will  put  Col.  S.  in  the  way  of  exe 
cuting  his  mission. 

"  Yours  truly, 

"A.  LINCOLN." 

Col.  Scroggs  arrived  at  New  Orleans  on  the  5th  of  May,  1884, 
and  reported  to  Gen.  Banks.  About  the  time  of  his  arrival  at 
New  Orleans  an  order  was  issued  withdrawing  all  our  troops  from 
Texas,  which  rendered  his  mission  impracticable.  He  remained 
in  command  of  his  regiment  until  July  6th,  1864,  when  he  re 
signed,  and  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service.  The  with 
drawal  of  all  troops  from  Texas  defeated  the  object  of  the  Presi 
dent,  in  his  expectations  that  Col.  Scroggs  would  organize  the 
colored  men  of  that  State  into  soldiers  for  the  Union.  Hence  Col. 
Scroggs  found  his  regiment  divided,  doing  garrison  and  other 
duties,  and  himself  detailed  on  a  court  martial,  which  accounts  for 
his  resignation  and  discharge.  November  25th,  1864,  he  was  re- 
appointed  as  provost  marshal  of  the  Thirtieth  District  of  New  York, 
and  on  the  31st  of  December,  1865,  the  war  having  closed,  and  in 
consequence  of  the  suspension  of  recruiting  and  drafting,  he  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service  of  the  United  States.  Gen. 
Scroggs  is  still  a  resident  of  Buffalo,  in  the  practice  of  his  profes 
sion.  Having  acquitted  himself  successfully  as  a  servant  of  the 
government,  he  is  now  at  the  service  of  the  people. 
17 


386  Appendix. 


BREVET  BRIGADIER  GENERAL   CALVIN  N.  OTIS, 

AND  LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  ONE  HUNDREDTH  NEW  YOHK 
VOLUNTEERS. 

Col.  Otis  was  born  in  Onondaga  county,  New  York,  June  23d, 
1814.  He  lost  his  father  at  the  early  age  of  nine  years.  He  emi 
grated  to  Ohio  in  1822.  His  education  was  that  of  the  common 
school,  and  he  attended  not  more  than  three  months  in  a  year. 

The  Colonel  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  which 
prepared  him  for  the  profession  of  an  architect  and  designer.  In 
184G  he  came  to  Buffalo  and  established  himself,  and  succeeded  as 
an  architect  and  builder.  Deeply  interested  and  filled  with  a  love 
for  the  beautiful  in  art,  he  applied  himself,  with  steady  study  and 
general  reading,  to  acquire  what  knowledge  is  requisite  to  make  a 
successful  and  reputable  designer.  His  work  lately  published  illus 
trates  the  thoughtful  student  and  his  utilitarian  method  of  search 
ing  the  history  of  the  past  to  gain  helps  for  the  successful  prose 
cution  of  so  popular  a  profession  as  an  architect  at  the  present  time. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  great  civil  war  found  him,  like  many 
others,  engaged  in  a  successful  business.  He  applied  to  Governer 
Morgan  to  raise  a  corps  of  engineers,  but  learned  that  a  sufficient 
number  of  engineers  were  to  attend  each  regiment,  and  hence  a 
distinct  body  of  engineers  was  not  needed.  This  was  in  May,  1861. 
Then  it  was  understood  that  two  companies  of  engineers  were  to 
be  attached  to  each  brigade,  and  Col.  Otis  was  to  have  the  charge 
of  those  companies,  in  connection  with  the  Eagle  Brigade.  This 
order  was  also  revoked,  and  then  Gen.  Scroggsgave  the  majority  of 
the  One  Hundredth  to  Col.  Otis,  which  connected  him  with  its  in 
terests  till  his  resignation. 

Col.  Otis  was  commissioned  major,  February  7th,  18G2,  and  be 
came  an  active  spirit,  with  the  interests  of  the  regiment  deeply 
fixed  in  his  thoughts.  The  record  of  his  services  is  given  fully  in 
the  body  of  the  work.  The  Peninsula  campaign  constituted  the 
larger  share  of  the  Colonel's  military  experience.  At  Fair  Oaks, 
Bottom's  Bridge,  and  wherever  Naglee's  rear  guard  was,  there  was 
the  One  Hundredth  and  Maj.  Otis,  building  redoubts  and  defend 
ing  bridges,  which  saved  McClellan's  army. 

The  death  of  Col.  Brown  left  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  and  Otis  to 
perform  the  duties  usually  imposed  upon  a  full  staff  of  field  offi- 


Appendix.  387 

ccrs.  Gen.  Otis  was  overtaxed,  and  felt  heavily  the  imposition  in 
the  retreat  to  the  James  river,  Harrison's  Landing  and  Gloucester 
Point.  The  arrival  of  Col.  Dandy  as  commander  of  the  regiment, 
and  resignation  of  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton,  caused  the  promotion  of 
Gen.  Otis,  from  major  to  lieutenant  colonel.  The  commission  was 
dated  October  21st,  1862,  with  rank  from  October  14th,  1862.  The 
senior  captain  of  the  line,  D.  D.  Nash,  was  promoted  to  the 
majority,  date  and  rank  of  commission  same  as  that  of  Col.  Otis. 
Gen.  Otis  was  active  in  the  construction  of  camp,  and  in  the  com 
mand  of  working  parties  upon  the  fortifications  at  Yorktown.  He 
commanded  the  regiment  during  our  transfer  to  North  Carolina, 
and  most  of  the  time  of  its  stay  at  Carolina  City.  Gen.  Otis  con 
tinued  with  the  regiment  at  St.  Helena,  S.  C.,  on  board  trans 
port,  and  the  landing  on  Cole's  island.  He  was  in  command 
on  the  night  of  the  5th  of  April,  when  Folly  island  was  taken,  and 
did  regular  service  till  his  resignation  and  discharge,  June  20th, 
1863.  Each  soldier  felt  that  they  had  lost  a  real  friend,  one  whose 
every  act  was  an  intent  for  the  highest  good  of  every  man  in 
the  regiment.  Gen.  Otis  was  breveted  brigadier  general  for  meri 
torious  service.  He  returned  to  Buffalo,  completed  and  brought  out 
a  valuable  and  comprehensive  work  on  "  Art,"  and  has  lately  pur 
chased  a  residence  in  Cuba,  in  this  State,  where,  with  an  aged 
mother  and  a  sister  he  is  living,  having  done  what  he  could  for  his 
country  in  her  hour  of  peril,  besides  contributing  valuable  truths 
for  the  members  of  his  profession. 


MAJOR  DANIEL  D.  NASH. 

Maj.  Daniel  D.  Nash  was  the  son  of  John  F.  Nash,  youngest  son 
of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Nash,  known  as  Father  Nash,  of  Cooperstown, 
Otsego  county,  N.  Y.  He  was  born  April  16th,  1839,  in  Coopers- 
town,  N.  Y.  He  lost  his  parents  at  the  early  age  of  two 
years,  and  was  adopted  by  his  uncle,  Dr.  Daniel  Nash,  then  a  resi 
dent  of  Springville,  Erie  county,  where  the  Major  lived  till  1856. 
Having  attended  the  Springville  Academy  for  eight  years,  he  left 
and  continued  his  studies  at  Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute, 
then  and  now  under  the  able  management  of  President  Joseph  E. 


388  Appendix. 

King,  where  he  remained  two  years.  Then  the  Major  went  to 
Iowa,  and  from  there  to  the  then  territory  of  Nebraska.  After  a 
stay  of  two  years,  employed  in  teaching,  surveying,  farming  and 
locating  land,  he  returned,  on  account  of  the  increasing  disability 
of  his  parents,  to  Springville,  and  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge 
Morris  Fosdick,  where  he  remained  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion. 

He  recruited  the  first  company  toward  the  Eagle  Brigade, 
which  was  afterward  known  as  Co.  "A,"  of  the  One  Hundredth 
Regiment.  His  success  gave  the  first  emotions  of  cheer  to  Gen. 
Scroggs,  after  his  issues  of  authority  to  recruit  to  Maj.  Nash  and 
others.  The  popularity  of  Maj.  Nash  among  his  friends  and  asso 
ciates,  in  the  town  of  Springville  and  vicinity,  enabled  him  to  fill 
at  once  his  company,  and  report  to  Gen.  Scroggs,  in  Buffalo,  for 
orders.  Hence  Maj.  Nash  became  the  ranking  officer  of  the  line. 
Though  young  in  years,  his  tall  and  commanding  form  gave  evi 
dence  of  strength  and  endurance,  the  essential  requisites  of  a 
soldier.  His  experience  on  the  Peninsula  was  his  first  tuition  as  a 
soldier.  He,  too,  went  into  that  terrible  fight  of  the  31st  of  May, 
at  Fair  Oaks,  and  was  wounded  through  the  arm,  sending  him  to 
the  hospital  and  at  home  for  many  months.  Col.  Brown  having 
been  slain,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Staunton  resigned,  promotions  were  in 
order.  Capt.  Nash  was  commissioned  major,  October  21st,  1862, 
with  rank  from  October  14th,  1862,  vice  Major  C.  N.  Otis,  promoted 
to  lieutenant  colonel.  Maj.  Nash  rejoined  the  regiment  at  Glou 
cester  Point,  Va.  At  Carolina  City,  Hilton  Head,  St.  Helena,  Cole's 
and  Folly  islands,  Maj.  Nash  was  ever  ready  to  perform  his  share 
of  duty.  Subsequent  to  the  resignation  of  Col.  Otis,  in  June,  the 
duties  of  the  Major  were  increased.  The  building  of  batteries  at 
the  north  end  of  Folly,  under  Col.  Dandy,  and  the  preparations  for 
the  assault  of  Morris  island,  the  assault  and  the  charge  on  Battery 
Wagner,  these  added  to  the  labors  of  Maj.  Nash  daily.  In  the 
charge  on  Wagner  he  was  wounded  through  the  leg,  after  the  most 
determined  efforts  to  take  and  hold  the  parapets  of  that  fiercely 
defended  work.  With  many  other  persistent  and  courageous  offi 
cers  he  fell,  but  was  borne  away  and  saved  from  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  and  a  life  in  a  southern  prison.  After  months  of  suffering 
he  came  to  the  regiment  in  November,  while  encamped  on  the 
south  end  of  Morris  island.  During  the  absence  of  Col.  Dandy,  at 
Buffalo,  on  recruiting  service,  Maj.  Nash  was  in  command,  the 


Appendix.  389 

only  field  officer  of  the  regiment.  The  interests  of  the  regiment 
were  well  subserved.  Though  Capt.  L.  S.  Payne  had  been  recom 
mended  as  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  regiment,  then  a  prisoner  at 
Columbia,  S.  C.,  yet  it  was  well  known  that  the  chivalrous  Captain 
would  not  have  allowed  himself  to  supplant  the  next  ranking  offi 
cer  in  the  field,  and  that  Maj.  Nash  would  have  had  his  rightful 
position,  due  him  from  service  and  wounds. 

At  Gloucester  Point,  Va.,  Col.  Dandy  assumed  command,  and 
Maj.  Nash  went  into  the  fight  at  Walthall  Junction,  for  which  he 
was  again  complimented  by  the  colonel  commanding.  In  the 
struggles  on  the  Bermuda  front,  in  that  storm  of  iron  hail  at 
Drury's  Bluff,  in  the  taking  of  Deep  Bottom,  the  battles  of  Deep 
Run,  Fussill's  Mills,  and  the  month's  siege  before  Petersburg,  where 
Maj.  Nash  was  in  command  of  the  regiment,  as  well  as  in  the 
taking  of  the  first  line  of  works  before  Richmond,  September  29th, 
and  the  assault  of  the  rebels  on  the  morning  of  October  7th,  on  the 
Newmarket  road;  in  all  these  noted  and  historical  places  Maj. 
Nash  was  ever  present,  and  active  in  the  performance  of  duty. 
Full  particulars  of  his  services  are  noted  in  their  order  throughout 
this  work.  Wonderful  it  always  seemed,  that  his  large  figure,  so 
conspicuous  as  a  target  for  the  enemy,  was  not  laid  low  in  death, 
while  so  many  less  prominent  were  taken  as  the  victims  of  san 
guinary  war. 

Maj.  Nash  wras  honorably  discharged,  October  21st,  1864,  after  a 
service  of  over  three  years,  with  the  record  of  a  soldier  who  had 
served  his  country  well,  and  sprinkled  its  altar  with  his  blood. 
Subsequent  to  his  discharge  he  came  to  Buffalo,  and  completed  a 
course  of  study  at  law,  was  admitted  to  practice,  and  is  now  assist 
ant  district  attorney  of  Erie  county,  which  duty  he  is  said  to  per 
form  with  ability  and  success. 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  LEWIS  S.  PAYNE, 

THE  SCOUT  OF  THE  ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT. 

Col.  Payne  was  born  in  the  town  of  Riga,  Monroe  county,  N. 
Y.,  in  1819.     His  home  is  in  Tonawanda,  town  of  Wheatland, 


390  Appendix. 

Niagara  county,  N.  Y.  As  boy  and  man  ho  was  successful  in 
business.  As  the  highest  civil  officer  of  the  town  in  which  he 
resides,  and  as  collector  of  tolls,  and  county  clerk  of  the  county, 
Col.  Payne  ever  illustrated  the  shrewd  and  practical  civilian. 

In  the  fall  of  1860  he  raised  a  company  of  volunteers,  which 
formed  a  part  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  known  as  Co. "  D." 
With  the  regiment  and  his  company  he  went  through  the  Penin 
sula  campaign,  participating  in  all  the  battles  and  enduring  all  the 
privations  incident  to  that  noted  campaign.  His  peculiar  qualifi 
cations  as  scout  began  to  be  known,  and  his  services  were  occasion 
ally  called  into  requisition  before  leaving  Gloucester  Point,  Ya., 
for  the  South,  where  full  play  was  offered  for  his  remarkable 
characteristic. 

In  the  advance  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  upon  Cole's 
island,  Col.  Payne  began  his  "  outside  life,"  as  the  medium  of  know 
ledge  between  the  enemy  and  our  forces.  It  was  from  this  point 
that  he  made  his  many  bold  and  daring  expeditions,  learning  the 
whole  nature  of  the  country,  the  positions,  situation  and  strength 
of  the  enemy  in  their  various  localities  and  stations.  On  the  nights 
of  the  5th  and  6th  of  April,  1863,  he  led  the  advance,  as  scout,  up 
Folly  island,  under  Gen.  Seymour,  to  support  the  attack  of  Ad 
miral  Dupont  on  Fort  Sumter,  made  with  his  iron  monitors  on  the 
7th  of  April,  1863.  On  the  10th  of  July  he  piloted  and  conducted 
our  forces  to  the  point  of  attack,  and  was  first  in  the  engagement. 
They  carried  and  took  possession  of  the  south  end  of  Morris  is 
land,  and  soon  after  he,  with  his  company,  succeeded  in  reaching 
and  burning  the  steamer  Manigault,  in  Charleston  harbor,  engaged 
in  supplying  Sumter,  Moultrie,  Battery  Wagner  and  Cummings' 
Point. 

Previous  to  the  disposition  of  the  necessary  forces  for  an  as 
sault  upon  Morris  island,  Col.  Payne  had  given  his  opinion  of  the 
number  of  rebel  troops  upon  the  island.  Gens.  Gilmore,  Strong 
and  Seymour  could  not  credit  his  statement.  As  proof,  he  visited 
the  island,  counted  their  tents,  leaving  the  estimate  to  the  general 
in  command.  From  this,  more  than  a  thousand  men  were  added 
to  the  assaulting  force.  Col.  Payne's  statements  thereafter  were 
taken  as  facts,  as  near  as  facts  could  be  obtained.  Gen.  Gilmore, 
over  his  signature,  gave  Col.  Payne  power  to  call  for  all  the  men 
he  needed  and  turned  over  to  him  the  whole  picket  line  of  ten 
miles,  extending  the  length  of  Folly  and  Morris  islands.  Officers 


Appendix.  391 

that  outranked  him  were  chagrined  to  learn  that  all  reports  were 
to  be  made  to  him,  and  not  to  Gen.  Gilmore's  headquarters.  Capt. 
Payne  and  Co.  "D"  were  the  advanced  guard,  living  in  boats  in 
the  marshes,  between  the  opposing  armies. 

On  the  night  of  the  3d  of  August,  1863,  while  engaged  in  inter 
cepting  communications  of  the  enemy  with  Fort  Sumter  and  other 
points,  he  was  attacked  by  a  superior  force,  and,  after  a  most  des 
perate  engagement,  he  was  wounded,  and  takej  prisoner.  He  was 
confined  in  Queen  Street  Hospital,  Charleston,  until  health  per 
mitted  his  removal  to  Columbia,  where  he  was  kept  in  close  con 
finement  until  the  14th  of  February,  1865,  when  he  was,  with 
others,  moved  North  for  exchange.  On  the  5th  of  March,  1865,  he 
was  exchanged,  reaching  home  on  the  1st  of  April,  after  an  ab 
sence  of  three  years  and  three  months. 

The  annexed  commendatory  notices  in  the  New  SoutJi,  printed 
at  Hilton  Head,  S.  C.,  New  York  Tribune  and  other  sources, 
will  convey  to  the  reader  some  little  idea  of  the  valuable  services 
rendered  the  army  by  Col.  Payne  previous  to  his  capture.  The 
New  South  said  after  his  capture : 

"  The  loss  of  Capt.  Payne  at  any  time  would  be  a  serious  one,  but  at  this 
juncture  it  is  greatly  to  be  regretted. 

"  He  was  a  brave,  skillful  and  shrewd  officer,  and  the  very  best  scout  in  the 
department.  A  narrative  of  all  the  dangerous  scouts  he  has  been  on  while  his 
regiment  has  been  in  this  State  would  fill  a  volume.  We  hope  if  alive  he  will 
soon  be  exchanged. 

' '  It  appears  Capt.  Payne  was  recommended  for  promotion  to  lieutenant  c  olonel 
by  Gen.  Gilmore,  previous  to  his  capture,  but  entirely  unknown  to  him.  Lieut. 
Newell,  his  first  lieutenant,  was  afterward  promoted  to  captain  in  his  place , 
and  an  effort  was  made  to  get  Capt.  Payne  mustered  in,  in  his  absence,  in  order 
to  give  place  to  Lieut.  Newell  in  his  own  company.  The  following  is  Gen . 
Terry's  indorsement  of  the  application  : 

'  HEADQUARTERS  U.  S.  FORCES,  ) 

'MORRIS  ISLAND,  S.  C.,  November  27,  1803.  ) 

'Respectfully  forwarded,  with  the  suggestion  that  an  order  might  be  ob 
tained  from  the  W.ir  Department  to  muster  Capt.  L.  S.  Payne  as  lieutenant 
colonel,  notwithstanding  his  absence.  Capt.  Payne's  character  as  an  officer, 
and  his  valuable  services,  entitle  him  to  the  promotion  which  he  has  received, 
and  to  any  indulgence  which  can  be  shown  him. 

'A.  H.  TERRY, 

'  Brig.  Gen.  Commanding.1 " 

"  Extract  from  Col.  G.  B.  Dandy's  address  and  report  before  the  Board  of 
Trade,  of  Buffalo,  published  in  the  Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser,  January  6th, 
1864 : 

'From  North  Carolina  the  regiment  COnc  Hundredth  New  York  Volunteers, 
Col.  G.  B.  Dandy)  proceeded  to  St.  Helena  island,  S.  C.,  aud  on  the  22J  of 


302  Appendix. 

March  I  was  to  proceed  with  it  and  seize  Cole's  island,  preliminary  to  the  re 
cent  operations  before  Charleston.  Here  \ve  r<  Trained  eleven  clays  without 
support,  and  in  sipht  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  it  is  appropriate  at  this  time 
that  1  should  mention  the  valuable  services  ol  Capt.  Payne,  who  at  groat  risks 
went  out  daily  with  a.few  of  his  men  and  always  brought  back  valuable  infor 
mation  of  the  nature  of  country  and  the  position  and  force  of  the  enemy's  out 
posts.  I  was  by  this  means  enabled  to  add  to  the  charts  furnished  by  the  navy, 
and  to  give  valuable  information  to  the  general,  who  came  up  with  re-inforce- 
ments  and  succeeded  me  in  command.1 " 

"  Extract  from  a  letter  of  Chaplain  Linn,  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  New 
York  Volunteers,  to  the  Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser,  dated  Morris  island, 
August  let,  1863,  and  published  : 

1  His  (Capt.  Payne's)  services  being  so  valuable,  Gen.  Gilmore  has  retained 
him  and  his  company  for  special  duty  since  pur  being  on  this  island,  and  here 
let  me  say  that  a  greater  part  of  our  success  in  taking  Morris  island  was  owing 
to  the  very  valuable  information  which  he  was  able  to  give  the  general  com 
manding  in  regard  to  the  position,  force,  etc.,  of  the  enemy.'" 

"  How  well  Capt.  Payne  performed  his  duty  can  be  seen  by  an  extract  from  a 
report  of  Gen.  Vogdes,  to  headquarters,  who  was  in  command  on  Folly  island 
previous  to  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Gilmore : 

'During  my  period  of  command  I  have  been  greatly  assisted  by  Capt.  Payne, 
One  Hundredth  New  York  Volunteers,  in  collecting  very  valuable  information 
as  to  the  enemy's  position,  etc.,  and  I  take  great  pleasure  in  recommending  him 
to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  general  commanding.'  " 

"In  a  letter  to  the  Washington  Chronicle,  dated  Morris  island,  August  5th, 
1863,  after  giving  an  account  of  his  capture,  etc.,  it  then  says  : 

'  Capt.  Payne's  loss  is  deeply  felt.  He  was  one  of  the  most  valuable  men  in 
the  Department  (of  the  South)  as  a  scout.'  " 

"  The  following  is  copied  from  a  rebel  paper,  the  Charleston  Mercury,  while 
Capt.  Payne  was  a  prisoner  in  Queen  Street  Hospital,  Charleston,  and  was  the 
cause  of  his  being  placed  in  close  confinement,  and  not  exchanged : 

'AN  IMPORTANT  CAPTURE.— It  seems  that  the  Capt.  Payne,  who  with  his 
boat's  crew  was  captured  on  Tuesday  night,  is  a  scout  of  some  note  and  dash 
among  the  enemy.' " 

"  The  New  York  Herald's  correspondent  thus  notices  his  services  : 

'It  is  not  improper  now  to  mention  the  distinguished  services  of  one  of  the 
most  skillful  scouts  our  army  affords.  Capt.  L.  S.  Payne,  of  the  One  Hundredth 
New  York  Volunteers,  scouted  all  around  Morris  island  and  landed  in  several 
places.  He  seems  to  have  a  faculty  of  knowing  just  where  all  the  enemy's 
pickets  and  troops  are;  his  life  is  evidently  charmed,  as  he  has  been  fired  on 
many  times  at  very  short  range.  He  has  command  of  all  our  picket  lines.'  " 

"Extract  from  a  letter  written  to,  and  published  in  the  New  York  Tribune, 
dated  at  Morris  island,  S.  C.,  August  15th,  1863: 

'In  my  last  I  mentioned  the  capture  of  Capt.  Payne,  a  valuable  scout,  who 
through  this  campaign  has  been  of  great  service  to  Gen.  Gilmore.  in  obtaining 
accurate  information  of  the  enemy's  movements.  The  loss  of  Capt.  Payne  at 
any  time  would  have  been  a  serious  one,  but  at  this  time  it  is  almost  irreparable. 
He  was  a  brave,  skillful  and  shrewd  officer,  and  the  very  best  scout  in  this  de 
partment.  A  narrative  of  all  the  dangerous  scout  she  has  been  on  in  this  State 
would  fill  a  volume.'  " 

Did  space  permit,  we  could  add  largely  lo  the  favorable  notices 
of  Col.  Payne,  but  from  the  matter  here  presented  the  people  ot 


Appendix.  393 

Erie  county  and  Western  New  York  can  form  some  little  knowl 
edge  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  and  its  extraordinary  ser 
vices,  through  its  representative,  the  fearless  and  intrepid  Col. 
Lewis  S.  Payne. 


BREVET  COLONEL  WARREN  GRANGER,  JR. 

Lieut.  Col.  Granger  was  born  on  the  19th  of  January,  1843,  in 
the  city  of  Buffalo,  Erie  county,  State  of  New  York.  He  received 
the  greater  part  of  his  education  at  the  school  of  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Brayton,  Painesville,  O.  He  returned  to  Buffalo,  and  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  commenced  the  study  of  surveying,  under  the  instruc 
tion  of  Peter  Ernslie,  then  city  surveyor.  He  remained  in  his 
office  until  the  commencement  of  the  organization  of  the  One 
Hundredth  Regiment.  Col.  Granger  was  commissioned  second 
lieutenant,  February  7th,  1862.  Young,  ardent  and  patriotic,  he 
entered  into  the  spirit  and  detail  of  military  with  a  resolution  to 
master,  as  far  as  opportunity  offered,  the  necessary  knowledge  for 
instant  and  active  service.  He  endured  with  remarkable  success 
the  sufferings  of  the  Peninsula  campaign,  and  went  into  the  fight 
at  Seven  Pines  with  an  enthusiasm  born  of  devotion  to  the  right 
and  opposition  to  the  wrong. 

The  untimely  death  of  Lieut.  Wilkeson,  and  the  absence  and 
subsequent  resignation  of  Capt.  Henshaw,  left  the  company  to  the 
care  of  the  youthful,  though  efficient  lieutenant.  He  was  pro 
moted  to  first  lieutenant,  June  20th,  18G2,  and  to  captain,  August 
13th,  18G2,  being  the  youngest  appointment  to  a  captaincy  from 
the  State.  With  a  largely  recruited  company  he  successfully  held 
command  to  Carolina  City,  N.  C.,  to  St.  Helena,  Cole's,  Folly  and 
Morris  islands,  where  on  the  eve  of  the  18th  of  July,  on  Morris  is 
land,  with  the  regiment,  he  went  into  the  charge  on  AVagner,  was 
wounded  and  sent  to  Beaufort,  thence  North  to  Riker's  island  in 
command  of  recruits,  their  reception  and  transportation  to  differ 
ent  departments  of  the  army,  where  he  remained  till  the  following 
June,  leaving  the  company  for  nearly  a  year  in  the  charge  of  Lieut. 
Stowits,  Lieut.  Sheffer  having  resigned.  June  21st,  made  the 
charge  on  the  Grover  House,  driving  the  rebels  from  the  position, 
for  which  he  was  complimented ;  and  subsequently,  in  July,  made 
17* 


Appendix. 

another  charge,  an  attempt  to  take  and  hold  the  Phillips  house,  in 
advance  of  the  Grover  House,  both  times  accompanied  by  Lieut. 
Stowits,  and  on  each  occasion  with  but  slight  loss.  August  14th, 
after  the  charge  on  the  four-gun  battery,  near  Deep  Bottom,  Col. 
Granger  was  detailed  to  haul  away  and  secure  the  guns,  which  was 
done  during  a  severe  rain  storm,  with  much  labor  and  exposure. 

August  IGth,  with  the  regiment,  he  went  into  the  charge  on  the 
enemy's  right  at  Fussill's  Mills,  and  was  taken  prisoner,  suffering 
with  a  varied  experience  the  routine  of  southern  barbarity  and 
wickedness.  He  was  exchanged,  commissioned  as  lieutenant 
colonel,  May  llth,  1865,  and  joined  the  regiment  as  its  commander 
at  Richmond,  the  last  of  May,  and  continued  with  it  until  its  mus 
ter  out,  the  last  of  August.  When  at  Albany  he  was  breveted 
colonel  for  gallantry  and  honorable  service  during  the  war. 

At  the  present  time  he  is  a  resident  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  engaged 
in  trade,  infused  with  that  same  spirit  of  enterprizing  zeal  which 
ever  characterized  him  as  an  officer  and  soldier  in  the  service  of 
his  country. 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  CHARLES  E.  WALBRIDGE. 

Lieut.  Col.  Walbridge  is  the  son  of  the  late  George  B.  Walbridge, 
a  well  known  merchant  and  forwarder  of  this  city,  who  died  in 
1852.  Col.  Walbridge  joined  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  at  its 
organization,  in  September,  1861,  as  second  lieutenant  of  Co.  "  II." 
On  the  17th  of  May,  1862,  while  the  regiment  was  at  New  Kent 
Court  House,  on  its  march  up  the  Peninsula,  he  was  detailed  as  act 
ing  regimental  quartermaster,  and  continued  on  this  duly  until 
taken  sick  at  Harrison's  Landing,  in  August,  when  he  was  sent  to 
hospital  at  Point  Lookout,  Maryland.  On  his  return  to  the  regi 
ment,  in  October,  he  assumed  command  of  the  company,  Capt, 
Dye  being  absent  on  recruiting  service  at  Buffalo.  He  was  com 
missioned  first  lieutenant,  December  10,  1862.  While  the  regi 
ment  camped  at  Gloucester  Point,  ancf  when  on  picket,  Lieut. 
Walbridge  had  correspondence  with  a  Union  man  without  the  lines 
and  across  Sara's  creek,  who  desired  to  come  within  the  lines  and 
go  North.  Col.  Davis,  in  command  of  the  post,  after  Lieut.  Wal 
bridge,  with  private  Bishop,  had  a  second  interview,  detailed 


Appendix.  395 

two  companies  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers  to  accompany  and  guard  the  man,  family  and  effects, 
into  the  Union  camp,  from  which  he  went  North  rejoicing.  Lieut. 
Wai  bridge  managed  the  affair  with  secrecy  and  success. 

When  the  regiment  moved  to  North  Carolina  and  was  encamped 
at  Carolina  City,  Lieut.  Walbridge  was  detailed  as  acting  quarter 
master  of  the  One  Hundredth,  by  Lieut.  Col.  Otis,  then  in  com 
mand;  but  in  a  few  days  afterward  was  detailed  as  brigade 
quartermaster  on  the  staff  of  W.  W.  H.  Davis,  colonel  command 
ing  brigade,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  the  One  Hundredth 
led  off  in  the  advance  on  Charleston,  when  he  was  relieved  at  his 
own  request,  and  again  assumed  command  of  his  company,  having 
been  commissioned  captain  with  rank  from  February  26th,  1863. 
Co.  "  H,"  of  which  he  was  in  command,  was  the  advance  picket  on 
the  evening  of  the  6th  of  April,  and  held  it  till  after  the  bombard 
ment  of  Sumter,  on  the  7th  of  April,  1863.  In  June,  while  the 
regiment  was  encamped  on  the  south  end  of  Folly  island,  he  was 
detailed  as  chief  quartermaster  of  the  district  of  the  Stono  by  Gen. 
Vogdes,  commanding  the  forces  on  Folly  island,  and  never  after 
joined  his  company.  In  November,  1864,  he  was  commissioned 
as  assistant  quartermaster  of  volunteers,  with  the  rank  of  captain. 
After  nearly  a  year's  service  on  Folly  island,  during  the  assault  on 
Morris  island,  charges  and  siege  of  Wagner,  taking  of  both  Wag 
ner  and  Gregg,  and  occupation  of  Morris  island,  and  rebuilding  of 
the  forts  and  construction  of  additional  works,  all  of  which  was 
accomplished  by  the  aid  of  material  furnished  by  Capt.  Walbridge 
as  quartermaster  in  charge  of  transportation  and  supplies  for  the 
army  of  operation  on  Morris  island,  he  joined  Gen.  Seymour  in 
Florida,  in  February,  1865,  and  acted  as  quartermaster  of  that 
district  until  the  movement  of  the  Tenth  Army  Corps  to  Virginia, 
when  he  was  ordered  to  Gloucester  Point  to  take  charge  of  the 
disembarkation,  and  subsequent  re- embarkation  of  the  corps  in 
the  expedition  under  Gen.  Butler.  After  the  movement  up  the 
James,  and  the  landing  of  the  troops,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  as 
depot  quartermaster  of  the  Army  of  the  James,  and  in  this  capa 
city  had  control  of  the  depot  at  Bermuda  Hundred  for  nearly  a  year. 
January  1st,  1865,  he  was  breveted  major.  In  March  lie  was  or 
dered  to  report  to  Maj.  Gen.  Terry,  in  North  Carolina,  and  was 
assigned  to  duty  as  chief  quartermaster  of  the  Tenth  Army  Corps, 
with  the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel.  Remained  on  this  duty  until 


396  Appendix. 

the  corps  organizations  were  dissolved,  after  the  expiration  of  the 
war,  and  resigned  October  1st,  1865.  Perhaps  we  could  not  con 
vey  a  clear  idea  to  a  civilian  of  the  arduous  and  incessant  duties  of 
quartermaster  at  the  various  points  mentioned,  but  to  the  experi 
enced  soldier  there  is  no  necessity  of  explanation. 


MAJOR  GEORGE  II.  STOWITS. 

Major  Stowits  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  in  the  valley  of 
the  Mohawk,  November  10th,  1822.  He  is  of  German  and  Irish 
descent.  He  is  self  educated,  being  orphaned  at  an  early  age,  and 
a  teacher  by  profession.  During  the  years  of  1850,  '51  and  '52,  he 
pursued  the  elementary  study  of  law,  in  the  office  of  Arphaxed 
Loomis,  Esq.,  Little  Falls,  N.  Y.  The  practice  of  law  was  not  in 
accordance  with  his  tastes,  and  hence  he  devoted  himself  exclu 
sively  to  the  profession  of  teaching.  In  1856,  while  teaching  at 
Waterford,  N.  Y.,  he  visited  the  schools  of  England,  Ireland  and 
Scotland,  and  became  deeply  interested  in  the  free  school  law, 
now  so  heartily  accepted  by  the  people  of  the  Empire  State. 
Through  the  recommendation  of  the  late  Victor  M.  Rice  and  others, 
he  came  to  Buffalo  January  1st,  1861,  as  principal  of  Public  School 
No.  10;  appointed  by  Sandford  B.  Hunt,  Esq.,  superintendent  of 
schools.  The  call  of  Supt.  Hunt  was  short :  "  No.  10  is  yours.  Come 
and  take  itr  He  came  and  took  it,  and,  it  is  said,  succeeded.  As  the 
fact  of  a  civil  war  seemed  certain,  Maj.  Stowits,  with  Samuel  Slade, 
N.  G.  Benedict,  P.  Edwin  Dye,  and  other  teachers  of  the  city, 
joined  a  military  company  for  drill,  under  the  direction  of  Capt. 
Carlin,  of  the  United  States  Army,  who  subsequently  became  a 
major  general,  and  served  under  Sherman  in  his  campaigns  and 
march  to  the  sea.  The  Major  resolved  to  add  one  more  gun  to  the 
strength  of  the  national  army.  He  enlisted  as  a  private,  August  29th, 
1862,  and  joined  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  then  stationed  at 
Gloucester  Point,  Ya.  For  a  few  weeks  previous  to  leaving  the 
city  he  attended  a  number  of  Avar  meetings,  and  helped  to  arouse 
the  people  to  the  needs  of  the  nation.  After  reaching  the  regiment 
he  was  assigned  to  Co.  "  H,"  Capt.  P.  Edwin  Dye,  formerly  princi 
pal  of  Public  School  No.  16  of  this  city,  who  was  then  absent  from 


Appendix.  397 

his  company,  which  was  commanded  by  Lieut.  Charles  E.  Wai- 
bridge. 

He  was  appointed  orderly  sergeant  of  Co.  "  H,"  December  4th, 
18G2,  to  rank  from  September  6th,  1862.  He  was  commissioned 
second  lieutenant  April  18th,  1863,  which  fact  becoming  known  to 
the  teachers  of  Buffalo,  he  was  duly  presented  with  a  complete 
outfit,  as  an  officer;  for  which  he  responded  in  terms  both 
grateful  and  appreciative.  October  7th,  1863,  he  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant,  and  in  December  accompanied  Col.  Dandy  to  Buf 
falo  from  Morris  island  on  recruiting  service.  Having  been  as 
signed  to  Co.  "  K,"  commanded  by  Capt.  Granger,  he  had  charge 
of  the  company  for  most  of  the  year,  during  the  siege  of  Wagner, 
its  reduction,  the  building  of  the  forts,  transfer  to  Virginia,  battle 
of  Walthall  Junction  and  Drury's  Bluff.  In  June  and  July,  1864, 
he  accompanied  Capt.  Granger  in  the  charges  on  the  Grover  and 
Phillips  houses  in  front  of  the  works  at  Deep  Bottom.  In  August 
he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  Co.  "  A,"  and  went  into  the 
charge  with  the  regiment  on  a  four-gun  battery,  August  14th,  and 
also  that  fearful  and  disastrous  assault  on  the  enemy's  works  at 
Fussill's  Mills,  August  16th ;  and  was  left  to  hold  the  picket  line, 
with  orders  "  till  overwhelmed"  and  for  three  hours  held  it,  while 
the  main  body  of  the  corps  was  miles  away.  The  Major  served 
a  month  with  the  regiment  in  the  trenches  before  Petersburg,  and 
had  charge  of  the  skirmish  line  when  assaulted  by  the  enemy,  Oc 
tober  7th,  1864,  on  the  north  side  of  the  James  river,  near  the 
Newmarket  road.  He  was  detailed  acting  assistant  adjutant  gen 
eral,  October  26th,  on  the  staff  of  Col.  H.  M.  Plaisted,  commanding 
the  brigade,  and  was  wounded  through  the  right  arm  in  an  ad 
vance  on  the  rebel  works,  October  27th,  in  front  of  Richmond,  and 
sent  to  hospital  at  Fortress  Monroe.  He  was  commissioned  cap 
tain,  Nov.  19th,  1864.  He  returned  to  duty  December  16th,  and 
continued  at  brigade  headquarters  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  in  the  last  fight  of  the  First  Division,  Third  Brigade,  Twenty- 
fourth  Army  Corps,  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  Col.  G.  B.  Dandy 
commanding  brigade.  He  was  in  command  of  the  line,  under  the 
directions  of  Col.  Dandy,  in  the  assault  of  the  enemy  and  their 
repulse  at  Hatcher's  Run,  on  the  morning  of  April  1st,  and 
was  in  the  charge  of  Fort  Grigg,  Sunday,  April  2d,  1865, 
wrhen  the  brave  and  chivalrous  Maj.  Dandy  gave  his  life  for 
the  entity  of  the  Republic.  He  returned  with  the  army  to  Rich- 


398  Appendix. 

moncl,  and  was  commissioned  major  May  31st,  18G5;  resigned 
in  Jane,  and  left  for  Buffalo  and  the  resumption  of  a  teacher's  work. 
These  are  military  facts.  For  himself  as  a  civilian  he  is  not  al 
lowed  to  speak. 


LIEUTENANT  GEORGE  G.  BARNUM,  JR., 

QUARTERMASTER  AND  BREVET  CAPTIAN  OF  ONE  HUNDREDTH 
NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEERS. 

Lieut.  Barnum  was  born  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  October  1st,  1843. 
His  father,  George  G.  Barnum,  has  long  been  known  as  a  grocer 
and  merchant  of  integrity,  and  his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  the  unity  of 
government  and  the  extinguishment  of  rebellion  needs  no  com 
ment  here.  Lieut.  Barnum  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Buffalo,  and,  full  of  the  spirit  of  patriotism,  enlisted  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  September  1st,  1862.  Under  the  auspices  of  the  Board 
of  Trade  he  joined  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  and  was  assigned 
to  Co.  "  H,"  Capt.  P.  Edwin  Dye.  At  this  time  the  regiment  was 
camped  at  Gloucester  Point,  Va.  For  the  first  seven  months 
of  his  career  as  a  soldier,  Lieut.  Barnum  gave  no  certain  proofs  of 
the  rare  business  qualifications  he  possessed.  In  common  with 
all,  his  duty,  as  one  of  the  rank  and  file,  was  always  faithfully  per 
formed.  However,  during  these  months  his  liberal  and  generous 
spirit  was  well  known  among  his  fellow  soldiers.  His  patriotic 
father  and  loyal  mother  were  ever  sending  to  their  absent  son 
many  things  not  known  in  the  list  of  soldiers'  rations,  and  Lieut. 
Barnum  never  seemed  fully  pleased  till  his  friends  shared  his  boun 
ties.  The  writer  has  often  been  a  thankful  recipient  of  substantial 
favors  at  his  hands.  His  regular  mail  of  newspapers,  supplied  by 
his  father,  was  eagerly  sought,  and  enjoyed  by  many.  As  soon  as 
the  regiment  was  encamped  on  Folly  island,  and  Capt.  Brown  was 
detailed  as  acting  quartermaster,  knowing  the  father  of  Lieut.  Bar 
num,  and  the  opportunities  of  his  son  for  a  business  education,  sent 
his  name  to  the  colonel  commanding  for  detail  as  clerk  and  assist 
ant.  From  that  hour  his  energy  was  felt^tliroughout  the  regi 
ment  ;  soon  he  was  made  quartermaster  sergeant,  and  during  the 
fall  and  winter  on  Morris  island  his  duties,  in  consequence  of  the 
ill  health  of  Capt.  Brown,  were  those  of  quartermaster  as  well  as 


Appendix.  399 

quartermaster  sergeant.  He  comprehended  all,  and  his  celerity 
and  success  in  the  issues  of  clothing  and  camp  equipage,  became 
proverbial,  coupled  with  an  accuracy  rarely  ever  questioned.  He 
was  often  three  in  one,  such  was  and  is  the  power  he  possesses  as  a 
natural  business  man.  April  14th,  1864,  he  was  commissioned  as 
second  lieutenant,  and  subsequently  assigned  to  Co.  "  G."  He  was 
in  command  of  his  company  on  the  night  of  the  1st  of  June,  on 
the  Bermuda  front,  when  the  whole  line,  from  dark  till  daylight, 
kept  up  one  sheet  of  flame,  that  the  rebels  might  not  get  possession 
of  our  rifle  pits.  But  his  qualifications  as  a  natural  quartermaster 
were  known,  as  Col.  Walbridge's  became  known,  and  hence  he  was 
called  to  assume  its  duties,  as  Capt,  Brown  had  resigned  and  gone 
North.  At  times,  he  was  both  adjutant  and  quartermaster.  Octo 
ber  3d,  1864,  he  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  and  quarter 
master,  and  continued  to  hold  and  discharge  the  duties  of  that 
office,  and  that  to,  under  the  orders  of  a  colonel  whose  military 
culture  as  a  quartermaster  in  the  regular  army  was  known  to  be 
good,  until  the  regiment  was  mustered  out,  August  28th,  186o. 

Both  the  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment  felt  that  their  inter 
ests  were  always  safe  in  the  hands  of  the  young  and  trusty  quar 
termaster.  Whether  in  obtaining  supplies,  or  expressing  their 
money  to  their  friends  at  home,  in  the  discharge  of  any  duty,  it 
was  known  that  if  the  duty  came  within  the  range  of  possibilities, 
it  was  done  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  interested.  Cool,  clear-headed, 
prompt,  vigilant  and  decisive,  he  was  ever  the  courteous  gentle 
man,  and  the  obedient  soldier.  He  is  now  a  citizen  of  DuLuth,  a 
book-keeper  and  paymaster  on  the  St.  Paul  and  Superior  Kail  way. 
Now,  as  he  was  wont  to  do  in  the  army,  he  can  and  will  perform 
the  labor  of  three  ordinary  men.  That  the  loyal  and  successful 
soldier  will  succeed  in  whatever  he  undertakes,  is  the  wish  of  those 
who  knew  him  at  the  front  as  well  as  those  who  knew  him  in  civil 
life.  The  One  Hundredth  Regiment  has  the  honor  of  producing 
two  able  and  efficient  quartermasters,  Lieut.  Col.  Charles  E.  Wai- 
bridge  and  Brevet  Capt.  George  G.  Barnurn. 


CAPTAIN  OSCAR  F.  RICHARDS. 

Capt.  Richards  was  born  in  Champion,  Jefferson  county,  Octo 
ber  28th,  1834.     Previous  to  the  rebellion  he  was  a  resident  of 


400  Appendix. 

Clarence,  Erie  county,  though  he  had  resided  with  his  uncle,  Dr. 
A.  N.  Henderson,  of  Buffalo,  and  had  been  in  the  employ  of  Mr. 
O.  E.  Sibley,  jeweller  in  this  city.  He  had  learned  the  trade  of  a 
blacksmith,  having  a  taste  for  mechanics.  It  was  not  surprising 
that  the  enthusiasm  which  was  felt  at  the  opening  of  the  rebellion 
should  have  influenced  Capt.  Richards,  and  induced  him  to  enlist  as 
a  soldier,  and  unite  his  fate  with  that  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regi 
ment.  He  was  assigned  to  Co.  "  G,"  Capt,  Hinson,  and  was  sub 
sequently  promoted  to  corporal,  and  continued  in  the  active  dis 
charge  of  his  duties  up  to  the  31st  of  May,  when,  in  that  bloody 
struggle  at  Fair  Oaks,  he  was  shot,  the  ball  passing  into  the  right 
eye  and  coming  out  behind  the  ear,  carrying  the  eye  with  it.  At 
his  fall  he  was  supposed  killed,  but  he  subsequently  walked  four 
miles  and  lay  upon  the  ground  all  night.  His  recovery  from  such 
a  wound,  under  the  circumstances,  was  marvelous.  He  had  done 
all  that  he  could  for  his  country,  save  giving  his  life,  and  was  dis 
charged  the  service.  Though  disabled  in  the  loss  of  so  valuable  a 
member  as  the  eye,  Capt.  Richards  fails  not  to  keep  up  his  interest 
in  the  progress  of  military  affairs.  We  must  not  neglect  to  state 
that  succeeding  the  recovery  of  Capt.  Richards  his  many  friends 
of  Clarence,  through  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ballou,  presented  him  with  a  valu 
able  suit  of  clothing  and  other  comforts,  as  a  grateful  testimonial 
for  his  patriotic  services,  and  their  hearty  thankfulness  for  his  res 
toration  to  comparative  health  when  apparently  near  the  shades  of 
death.  The  address  was  full  of  kind  and  feeling  sentiments,  and 
the  response  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bartlctt,  of  Clarence,  for  Capt.  Rich 
ards,  was  equally  timely,  pertinent  and  loyal,  indicating  a  mutual 
agreement  of  all  parties  that  they  had  performed  a  noble  and  gen 
erous  act.  Capt.  Richards  is  at  this  time  in  command  of  Co.  "  K," 
Seventy-fourth  Regiment,  composed  of  veterans  of  the  One  Hun 
dredth  Regiment.  The  associations  of  these  heroes  of  the  past  are 
enjoyable  occasions  of  real  pleasure,  and  help  to  keep  alive  the 
real  service  in  which  they  assisted  to  save  the  unity  of  a  great 
nation. 


LIEUTENANT  ALFRED  LYTHE, 

ONE   OF   THE  PRISONERS  AT   ANDERSONVILLE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  of  English  descent,  a  resident  of  this 
country  since  1850,  then  in  the  years  of  childhood,  and,  save  his 


Appendix.  401 

life  as  a  soldier,  Buffalo  has  always  been  his  home.  His  parents 
are  of  that  class  of  steady,  frugal  and  industrious  English  that  are 
known,  ever,  for  their  reliable  honesty  and  integrity,  and  the  son 
is  in  all  respects  a  true  reflection  of  his  worthy  father  and  mother. 
lie  is  in  every  sense  an  American.  He  enlisted  at  the  age  of  nine 
teen,  August  30th,  1862.  He  became  a  member  of  Co.  "  H,"  One 
Hundredth  Regiment,  joining  it  at  Gloucester  Point,  Va.  Lieut. 
Lythe  is  still  a  resident  of  the  city,  engaged  in  the  brick  and  tile 
manufacture  near  Cold  Spring,  where  his  parents  reside.  He  is  at 
present  a  lieutenant  of  Co.  "  K,"  Seventy-fourth  Regiment,  com 
posed  of  veterans  of  the  One  Hundredth.  He  was  one  of  the 
prisoners  at  Andersonville,  and  is  also  one  of  the  publishing  com 
mittee  of  this  work.  He  was  an  admirable  soldier,  faithful,  patient 
and  trusty;  and  but  for  the  disaster  at  Drury's  Bluff,  May  16th,  1864, 
where  he  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  he  would  have  been 
better  known  in  the  regiment,  and  would  have  received  promotion 
for  his  many  soldierly  qualities.  As  a  prisoner  at  Petersburg, 
Andersonville,  Florence,  and  exchanged  at  Charleston,  December 
6th,  1864,  we  shall  take  him  as  a  type,  or  representative,  of  over 
one  hundred  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  that  suffered,  and 
many  of  whom  died,  in  the  southern  prisons  named.  We  have 
the  diary  of  Lieut.  Lythe  before  us,  as  kept  by  him  during  his 
prison  life,  and  which  is  more  than  corroborative  of  the  cruelty 
and  barbarous  practices  of  Wirz  and  his  assistants  in  that  den  of 
death  at  Andersonville.  We  would  be  pleased  to  make  large  ex 
tracts  if  the  limits  of  this  book  would  warrant.  The  number  con 
fined,  rations  issued,  daily  deaths  and  treatments,  all  could  not  be 
rehearsed  in  a  volume. 

Lieut.  Lythe  with  others  taken  prisoners  at  Drury's  Bluff 
were  kept  at  Petersburg  for  nearly  two  weeks,  when  they  were 
forced  into  cars  so  crowded,  that  for  seven  days  and  nights,  in 
their  passage  to  Andersonville,  they  were  only  out  one  night 
and  in  removal  from  one  train  to  another.  At  Andersonville, 
while  in  line  in  front  of  Wirz'  headquarters,  in  a  heavy  rain, 
Lythe  stepped  from  front  to  rear  rank  to  allow  a  comrade  to 
share  his  piece  of  old  oil  cloth  blanket,  when  Capt.  Wirz,  with  a 
revolver  pointed  in  his  face,  told  him  to  step  back  instantly  or  he 
would  settle  his  hash  for  him.  The  stockade  enclosed  an  area  of 
many  acres,  filled,  at  times,  with  more,  and  at  others  less,  than 
thirty  thousand  prisoners.  The  daily  deaths  collected  at  the  gate 


402  Appendix. 

for  burial  were  from  sixty  to  seventy.  Offers  of  freedom  by  taking 
the  oath  were  spurned.  One  unlucky  fellow  consented.  lie  was 
caught  by  his  comrades,  his  head  shaved,  and  the  letter  "  T,"  in 
india  ink,  pricked  in  his  forehead.  Rations  varied.  Two  ounces 
of  bacon  and  a  pint  of  corn  meal  for  twenty-four  hours.  Rains 
were  frequent  and  the  sun  very  warm,  so  that  the  men  slept  in 
wet  clothes  oftener  than  otherwise.  Tunneling  for  escape  was 
frequent,  and  the  caught  victims  suffered  severely.  The  "  dead 
line"  claimed  its  sacrifices  almost  daily.  This  line  was  twelve 
feet  from  the  stockade.  Any  prisoner  found  near  that  line  wras 
shot  by  the  sentinel  on  duty  without  warning.  The  daily  arrival 
of  prisoners,  and  rumors  of  parol  and  exchange,  fed  the  hopes  and 
kept  the  spirits  of  the  men  from  ultimate  despair.  They  did  not 
live,  they  stayed  and  died  daily.  With  Alfred  Lythe  were  three 
other  prisoners  of  the  same  company,  James  Pixley,  Thomas  Rus 
sell  and  Albert  Tombers.  Lythe  had  part  of  a  rubber  blanket, 
Pixley  gave  his  watch  for  a  piece  of  an  old  horse  blanket,  and 
Tombers  got  four  sticks  while  out  carrying  a  dead  comrade  for 
burial,  which,  with  the  covering  named,  kept  the  rain  and  rays  of 
the  sun  from  them  and  added  some  little  to  daily  comfort.  Wood 
was  scarce.  Ninety  men  were  allowed  what  one  man  could  carry 
in  on  his  back,  which  must  last  twenty-four  hours.  Four  prison 
ers  were  allowed  to  go  out  with  one  dead  man.  The  living  desired 
a  chance  to  carry  out  the  dead,  and  even  quarreled  as  to  their 
respective  rights.  As  each  dead  prisoner  was  carried  to  the  gate 
the  expression,  "  There  goes  another  dead  man  to  be  traded  olf  for 
wood,"  was  common,  as  each  prisoner  under  guard  was  allowed  to 
bring  in  an  armful  of  wood.  Those  too  weak  to  carry  would  sell 
their  chances  to  the  stronger  for  half  the  load  brought  in.  The 
nearly  naked  would  exchange  their  clothing  with  the  dead,  if  bet 
ter.  The  sick  had  but  little  or  no  care.  Medicine  at  times  was 
wholly  exhausted.  The  day  of  exchange  rolled  round.  They 
were  sent  off  in  detachments  of  one  thousand  each.  Those  not 
able  to  walk  were  left.  Lieut.  Lythe  had  suffered  much  from  his 
wound  in  the  leg.  Gangrene  set  in,  and  the  rebel  physicians  de 
cided  to  cut  it  off.  His  friends  went,  leaving  him  behind,  but  an  ac 
cident  on  the  railroad  sent  them  back  again.  They  left  next  day. 
A  pair  of  rough  crutches  was  made,  and  Lythe  made  his  way  to 
the  depot,  reached  Macon,  then  Augusta,  and  soon  learned  that  no 
exchange  was  then  in  progress.  The  prisoners  wrere  sent  to  Flor- 


GEORGE   S.  HAZARD. 

Pres.  Board  of  Trade  from  1862  to  1865. 


Appendix.  403 

cncc.  The  prison  was  three  miles  from  the  depot.  Lieut.  Lythe 
crawled  there  on  his  hands  and  knees.  The  sick  and  dying 
lined  the  road  the  whole  distance.  Many  died  trying  to  get 
there,  others  as  soon  as  off  the  cars.  Lythe  was  afflicted  with 
scurvy  and  gangrene  together.  Finally  a  Dr.  Clark  said  he  could 
burn  out  the  gangrene,  which  he  did,  and  his  foot  improved, 
sleep  was  enjoyed  and  prospects  of  life  were  ahead.  Rations,  one 
and  a  half  hard  tack  and  four  spoonfuls  of  molasses,  with  a  shower 
of  rain  thrown  in.  Lythe  could  get  no  bandages  for  his  wound 
and  no  medicine  for  scurvy.  The  farmers  near  sent  a  few  biscuits 
and  one  gill  of  milk  to  make  a  poultice  for  his  foot,  but  being  hun 
gry  he  went  halves  with  the  foot,  eat  one-half  and  made  a  poultice 
with  the  other.  The  detachment  which  Lythe  accompanied  to 
Charleston  was  half  clothed  and  no  clothes,  and  on  their  arrival, 
when  their  sight  was  greeted  with  the  Old  Flag,  he  says,  "  We 
could  not  cheer,  the  view  was  a  weakening  joy  of  soul  and  body." 
That  flag  was  the  light  out  of  southern  darkness  to  the  prisoner's 
northern  home. 

We  cannot  do  justice  to  the  clear  truthfulness  of  this  diary, 
which  should  be  printed  entire,  but  the  expression,  oft  repeated 
relative  to  Capt.  Wirz,  "  I  hope  to  live  to  see  the  day  that  this 
fiend  will  swing,"  was  fulfilled,  and  the  demon  was  hung.  The 
prison  history  of  Lieut.  Lythe  will  answer  as  a  description  of  the 
sufferings  of  that  large  number  sent  to  southern  prisons  from  the 
ranks  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment. 


GEORGE  S.  HAZARD. 

George  S.  Hazard  was  born  in  New  London,  Connecticut,  in  1810. 
He  is  a  descendant  of  the  Hazards  of  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  so 
well  and  favorably  known  in  New  England.  His  education  devel 
oped  a  strong  tendency  for  the  activities  of  a  commercial  life ;  and 
this  desire  increased  with  his  years,  till  it  became  the  leading  trait 
of  character  and  the  basis  of  his  life's  work.  The  West  is  largely 
the  reflection  of  New  England.  The  stirring  and  active  spirits  of 
eastern  homes  were  and  are  found  all  over  the  Great  West.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  stopped  at  Toledo,  O.,  for  several  years,  en 
gaged  in  his  favorite  calling.  In  1847  he  arrived  in  Buffalo,  and  at 
once  identified  himself  with  its  commercial  interests.  A  few  years 


404  Appendix. 

previous  the  Board  of  Trade  had  been  organized,  and  the  next 
year  after  his  identification  with  Buffalo  interests  lie  was  made 
one  of  the  directors.  March  12th,  1855,  Mr.  Hazard  was  made 
president,  and  from  that  time  to  his  third  election  as  president, 
April  14th,  1862,  he  had  served  the  organization  as  director  and 
trustee.  In  the  summer  succeeding  his  election  as  president,  the 
Board  of  Trade,  by  resolution,  July  29th,  1862,  adopted  the  One 
Hundredth  Regiment  as  the  Buffalo  Board  of  Trade  regiment,  and 
with  money  subscribed  and  arrangements  perfected,  commenced 
recruiting  to  preserve  the  regiment  from  consolidation.  The  pres 
ident  of  the  Board  of  Trade  had  the  appointment  of  all  officers, 
and  recommended  the  same  to  the  Governor  of  the  State  for  com 
mission,  which  was  faithfully  adhered  to  by  Governor  Morgan, 
though  less  by  Governor  Seymour,  till  finally  commissions  were  is 
sued  direct  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  regiment. 

Mr.  Hazard  continued  as  president  during  the  eventful  years  of 
1862,  '63  and  '64,  which  was  a  testimony  of  honor,  confidence  and 
esteem  which  the  Board  of  Trade  seemed  anxious  to  demonstrate. 
The  additional  labor  imposed  by  the  adoption  of  the  regiment  was 
of  no  ordinary  character.  Private  interests,  the  responsibilities  of 
so  influential  a  body  as  the  Board  of  Trade  had  become,  with 
the  varied  obligations  to  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment  as  an 
organization,  and  to  individual  members,  all  rendered  the  duty  as 
a  presiding  officer,  onerous  as  well  as  honorable.  From  the  adop 
tion  of  the  regiment  to  its  dismemberment  he  gave  his  special  care 
in  executing  the  will  of  the  Board  of  Trade.  They  had  with  pride 
and  patriotism  provided  largely  in  men  and  pecuniary  aid.  The 
sum  of  $19,046.47  had  been  given,  which,  with  stands  of  colors, 
evidenced  the  liberality  of  that  body  of  men.  Hundreds  of  recruits 
were  added  to  the  ofttimes  depleted  companies  of  the  regiment  by 
the  Board  and  its  working  president. 

In  October,  1864,  Mr.  Hazard  and  son  made  a  visit  to  the  regi 
ment  and  the  Army  of  the  James.  He  partook  of  camp  fare  and  spoke 
kindly  words  of  cheer  to  the  men  on  parade.  Having  visited  the  line 
of  works  on  the  north  side  of  the  James,  and  at  City  Point  and  in 
front  of  Petersburg,  Mr.  Hazard  returned  to  Buffalo  with  a  more 
appreciative  knowledge  of  the  real  life  and  endurance  of  the  soldier. 

The  return  of  the  veterans  gave  Mr.  Hazard  an  opportunity  to 
recount  the  scenes  through  which  they  had  passed  and  to  tender 


Appendix.  405 

to  them,  the  remnants  of  the  original  regiment,  the  feeling  hospi 
tality  of  the  Board  of  Trade  and  the  citizens  of  Buffalo. 

Recently  he  has  been  abroad,  and  on  the  continent  saw  sights 
which  so  many  Americans  enjoy,  in  consequence  of  the  cheapness 
and  safety  of  travel,  as  well  as  of  living  among  the  denizens  of  the 
old  world. 

Mr.  Hazard  is  still  engaged  in  his  favorite  pursuit,  and  from  his 
vigor  and  elasticity  of  constitution,  bids  fair  to  be  seen  on  'change, 
as  ever,  for  a  decade  or  two  of  years. 


BUFFALO  BOARD  OF  TRADE. 

There  has  been  no  institution  organized  since  Buffalo  started  in 
its  career  as  a  growing  and  enterprising  city  which  can  compare 
with  the  organization  known  as  the  Buffalo  Board  of  Trade.  Its 
history,  condensed  and  intelligently  brief,  has  just  been  given  to  the 
public  in  pamphlet  form,  by  S.  S.  Guthrie,  Esq.,  late  president  of  the 
Board,  and  published  by  William  Thurstone,  the  energetic  and  en 
terprising  secretary.  This  paper  of  Mr.  Guthrie's  is  comprehensive 
in  its  brevity,  and  sets  forth  clearly  the  origin  and  growth  of  the  es 
tablishment  of  councils  and  boards  of  trade  from  the  earliest  times ; 
their  necessity  and  their  principles,  together  with  their  needs  and 
connection  with  the  varied  interests  of  a  nation's  growth.  From 
the  first  meeting  to  form  a  Board  of  Trade,  January  16th,  1844,  to 
the  present  time,  Mr.  Guthrie  has  faithfully  gathered  and  com 
piled  all  statistics  and  facts,  which  from  this  date,  through  his 
valuable  labor,  will  become  a  part  of  the  history  of  Buffalo  and  its 
onward  progress.  This  Board  with  its  briarean  arms  stirs  up  the 
wide-spread  fields  of  the  far  west,  and  gathers  its  rich  products  by 
transportation,  elevation  and  depression,  and  sends  them  to  the 
needy  millions  of  this  and  other  lands.  As  an  organic  power  it  is 
felt  in  almost  every  institution  where  pecuniary  aid  is  requisite  to 
further  benevolent  operations.  Its  liberality  and  patriotism  was 
made  manifest  in  its  munificent  donations  to  the  war  fund,  the 
adoption  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  its  bounteous  hospital 
ity  to  the  returned  soldiers,  and  the  active  zeal  manifested  in  all 
enterprises  which  looked  toward  a  saved  and  united  government. 

Succeeding  the  adoption  of  the  One  Hundredth  Regiment,  the 
Board  secured  the  services  of  Orlando  Allen,  Esq.,  as  an  efficient 


406  Appendix. 

aid  in  the  perplexing  duty  of  recruiting.  Mr.  Allen  by  his  exact 
business  habits,  and  his  large  acquaintance  and  personal  interest  in 
the  success  of  the  struggle,  having  given  a  son  as  a  martyr  to  the 
cause,  accomplished  much  in  adding  large  numbers  to  the  ranks  of 
the  One  Hundredth. 


ERIE  COUNTY  SAVINGS  BANK. 

Cooperative  with  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  among  the  most  use 
ful  institutions  of  Buffalo,  is  the  Erie  County  Savings  Bank.  Man 
aged  by  men  of  patriotism  and  intelligence,  it  was  throughout 
the  entire  rebellion  a  beneficent  power  in  favor  of  the  govern 
ment.  No  copperhead  found  lodgment  in  its  direction.  In  1801, 
when  the  first  call  was  made  by  the  national  government  for  sub 
scriptions  to  a  stock  loan,  the  Erie  County  Savings  Bank  offered 
par,  while  its  great  cotemporary  offered  only  seventy-five  cents. 
Whenever  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Erie  county  asked  for 
money  to  fill  our  regiments,  the  Erie  County  Savings  Bank  ever 
responded,  by  advancing  any  amount  required,  taking  the  county 
bonds  at  par  always. 

On  one  occasion  Majs.  Lyon  and  Young  of  that  Board  called  for 
$25,000,  but  had  to  admit  that  no  vote  had  passed  the  Board  au 
thorizing  the  loan.  Mr.  C.  P.  Lee,  the  loyal  secretary  of  the  Erie 
County  Savings  Bank,  reluctantly  declined  to  make  the  advance. 
Mr.  Lyon  was  at  his  wits  end.  Enlisting  would  cease  on  the  mor 
row  unless  money  was  forthcoming.  In  this  strait  he  went  to  the 
house  of  William  Wilkeson,  Esq.,  one  of  the  directors  of  the  sav 
ings  bank  that  had  declined  the  advance,  as  illegal  and  hazardous, 
and  obtained  from  Mr.  Wilkcson  his  check  for  $25,000,  giving 
neither  bond,  note  or  acknowledgment.  In  the  end  he  was  paid 
in  full.  The  moral  effect  of  the  position  held  by  the  Erie  County 
Savings  Bank  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  rebellion  was  a 
bulwark  of  power.  Its  secretary,  Mr.  Cyrus  P.  Lee,  induced  hun 
dreds  of  depositors  to  withdraw  deposits  and  invest  in  U.  S.  Bonds. 
With  the  author  of  this  book  he  was  constantly  engaged  in  moving 
the  people,  soliciting  aid,  relieving  the  needy,  and  doing  the  work 
of  a  patriotic  and  loyal  citizen. 


Appendix. 


407 


COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS 

UP  THE  ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT   INFANTRY  NEW  YORK 
STATE   VOLUNTEERS. 


Rank. 

Name. 

Date  of 
Com'sion. 

Date  of 
Rank. 

Remarks. 

Cols. 

James  M.  Brown, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Jan.  10,'62, 

Killed  May  31,  1862. 

Geo.  F.  B.  Dandy, 

Au.  27,  '62, 

Au.  27,  '62, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

Bvt.Br.Gen.N.Y.V 

Lt.  Cols. 

Phineas  Stannton, 
Calvin  N.  Otis, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 
Oct.  21,'62, 

Jan.  10,'62, 
Oct.  14,'62, 

Resigned  Oct.  11,  1862. 
Discharged  June  20,  1863. 

Bvt.Br.Gen.U.S.V. 

Lewie  S.  Payne, 

Nv.  14,  '63, 

Ju.  20,  '63, 

Not  mustered  as  Lieut.  Col. 

War'n  Grander,  Jr. 

Ma.  11,  '65, 

Mr.  11,  '65, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

(Bvt  Col.)" 

Majors, 

Calvin  N.  Otis, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Jan.  10,'62, 

Pro'ted  to  Lt.  Col.  Oct.  21,  '62. 

Daniel  D.  Nash, 

Oct.  21,  '62 

Oct.  14,'62, 

Discharged  Oct.  21,  1864. 

Tames  H.  Dandy, 

Dec.  9,  '64, 

Dec.  9,  '64, 

Killed  April  2,  1865. 

Bvt.  Lt.Col.N.Y.V. 

Seorge  H.  Stowits, 

Ma.  31,  '65, 

Apl.  2,'  65, 

Not  mustered  as  Major. 

Fred.  A.  Sawyer, 

Jly.  31,  '65, 

Ju.  4,  '65, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865, 

Bvt.  Lt.Col.N.Y.V. 

Adjts. 

P.  It.  Chadwick, 

Feb.  7,  '62. 

Dec.21,'61, 

Discharged  Nov.  1,  1862. 

H.  II.  Haddock, 

Nv.  24,  '62. 

Oct.  31,  '62, 

Killed  July  18,  1863. 

Qr.  Ms. 

Edward  S.  Peck, 
S.  M.  Chamberlain, 

Ma.  18,  '64, 
Feb.  1,  '62. 

Apl.  21,  '64, 
Nv.  2,  '61. 

Discharged  May  9,  1865. 
Discharged  April  8,  1862. 

Edwin  L.  Bishop, 
H.  N.  Oliver, 

Apl.  9,  '62, 
Ma.  18,  '64. 

Apl.  4,  '62. 
Dec.22,'63, 

Discharged  Dec.  22,  1863. 
Declined. 

Geo.  G.  Barnum, 

Oct.  3,  '64, 

Ma.  1,  '64, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

Bvt.  Capt.  N.  Y.  V. 

Surgs. 

M.  S.  Kittenger, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Oct.  9,  '61, 

Mustered  out  Jan.  9,  1865. 

Norris  M.  Carter, 

Mr.  15,  '65, 

Mr.  15,  '65, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

Bvt,  Lt.Col.N.Y.V. 

A.  Surg. 

Wm.  D.  Murray, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Nv.  4,  '61. 

Discharged  July  6,  1864. 

A.  Walter  Tyron, 
E.  Schonekl, 

Sep.  29,'62. 
Ju.  30,  '64, 

Sep.  13,  '62, 
Ju.  13,  '64, 

Discharged  Sep.  19,  1863. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865, 

Chapls  . 

John  B.  Linn, 

Nv.  24,  '62, 

Oct.  24,'62, 

Resigned  Oct.  16,"  1864. 

David  L.  Pendell 

Jly.  24,  '65. 

Jlv.  19,  '65, 

Not  mustered. 

Capts. 

Daniel  D.  Nash, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Oct.  1,  '61, 

Promoted  to  Maj.  Oct.  21,'62. 

William  L.  Mayo, 
William  Brown, 

Oct.  21,'62, 
Jly.  4,  '63. 

Oct.  14,'62. 
Ma.  25,  '63, 

Discharged  May  25,  1863. 
Discharged  July  25,  1864. 

George  II.  Stowits 
Henry  W.  Conry, 

Nv.  19,  '64. 
Ma.  31,  '65, 

Jly,  25,'64, 
Apl.  2,  '65, 

Discharged  June  8,  1865. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

Bvt.  Maj.  N.  Y.  V 

Walter  B.  Moore, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Oct.  4,  '61, 

Discharged  Sept.  27,  1862. 

M.  H.  Topping, 
John  McM;mn. 

Nv.  24,  '62, 
Ma.  18,  '64, 

Oct.  26,'62, 
Apl.  26,'64, 

Resigned  April  26,  1864. 
Discharged  March  7.  1865. 

Jonathan  E.  Head, 

Mr.  30,  '65. 

Mr.  6,  '65, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

John  Nicholson, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Oct.  11,  '61. 

Discharged  March  6,  1863. 

Leopold  Evert, 
Edwin  Nichols, 

Apl.  17/63. 
Nv.  19,  '64, 

Mr.  6,  '63, 
Sep.  2,  '64, 

Discharged  Sept.  2,  1864. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

Lewis  S.  Payne, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Nv.30,'61, 

Discharged  March  11,  1865. 

J.  A.  Newell, 

Nv.  10,  '63. 

Ju.  20,  '63, 

Not  mustered  as  Captain. 

Win.  Richardson, 

Apl.14,'64, 

Feb.  1,  '64. 

Died  of  wounds  July  27.  1864. 

C.  K.  Baker, 

Nv.  19,  '64, 

Nv.  5,  '64, 

Discharged  May,  25,  1865. 

DeWitt  C.  Wilber. 

Jly.  31,'fio, 

Ju.  22.  '65, 

Not  mustered. 

Michael  Bailey, 

Feb.  7,  '62. 

Oct.26,'61, 

Discharged  Aug.  5,  1863. 

James  H.  Dandv, 

Sep.  5,  '63, 

Au.  6,  '63, 

Promoted  to  Maj.  Dec.  9,  '64. 

Bvt.  Maj.  U.  Si  V 

Edward  L.  Cook, 

Jan.20,'65, 

Dec.  9,  '64, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

Bvt.  Maj.  N.  Y.  V 

Charles  H.  Rauert 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Oct.26,'61, 

Resigned  March  16,  18M. 

408 


Appendix. 


Rank. 

Name. 

Date  of 
Com'siou. 

Date  of 
Rank. 

Remarks. 

Capts. 

Chas.  P.  Gardner, 

Apl.  17,'63 

Jan.  13/63 

Discharged  June  11,  1863. 

Timothy  Lynch, 

Sep.  5,  '63 

Ju.  12,  '63 

Resigned  Nov.  3,  1864. 

Edward  Pratt, 

Jan.  26,  '(53 

Nv.  6,  '64 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

P.  Edwin  Dye, 

Feb.  7,  '62 

Oct.  29/61 

Resigned  Feb.  28,  1863. 

C.  E.  Walbridge, 

Apl.  17/63 

Feb.26/63 

Promoted,  Apr.  14,  1864,  to 

Capt.  and  A.  Q.  M.  Vols. 

Charles  E.  Morse, 

Feb.  7,  '62 

Nv.  4,  '61 

Discharged  Nov.  15,  1862. 

Frank  C.  Bruiick, 

Nv.  24,  '62 

Nv.  15,  '62 

Mustered  out  Jan.  9,  1865. 

Patrick  Connolly, 

Mr.  30,  '65, 

Mr.  6,  '65, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

Chas.  H.  Henshaw, 

Peb.  7,  '62, 

Nv.  16,  '61, 

Resigned  July  20,  18(52. 

War'  n  Granger,  Jr. 

Au.  13,  '62, 

Jly,  20,  '62, 

Pro'ted  to  Lt.  Col.  May  11.  '65. 

Samuel  Ely, 
Jacob  S.  Kittle, 

Ma.  31,  '65, 
Mr.  30,  '65, 

Mr.  11,  '65, 
Mr.  6,  '65, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

George  llinson, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Oct.  29/61, 

Discharged  Jan.  2,  18153. 

1st  Lt. 

William  L.  Mayo, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Oct.  1,  '61, 

Pro'ted  to  Capt,  Oct.  21,  '62. 

E.  L.  Whipple, 
Thomas  W.  Small, 

Oct.  22,'62, 
Feb.  11  ,'63. 

Oct.  4,  '62, 
Jan.  2,  '63, 

Discharged  Jan.  2,  1863. 
Not  mustered  as  1st  Lieut. 

James  Kavanaugh, 
George  II.  StowFtS. 

Apl.  17,'63, 
Oct.  7,  '63, 

Feb.24/63, 
Tly.  18,  '63, 

Missing  since  July  31,  1863. 
Pro'ted  to  Capt.  Nov.  19,  '64. 

M.  II.  Topping, 

Peb.  7,  '62, 

Oct.  4,  '61, 

Pro'ted  to  Capt.  Nov.  24,  '63. 

James  II.  Dandy, 

Nv.  24,  '62, 

Oct.  26/62, 

Pro'ted  to  Capt.  Sept.  5,  '63. 

C.  B.  Adriance, 

Sep.  5,  '63, 

Au.  6,  '63, 

Discharged  Nov.  22,  1864. 

Jacob  S.  Kittle, 

Dec.  9,  '64, 

Nv.  5,  '64, 

Pro'  ted  'to  Capt.  Mar.  30,  '65. 

John  Gordon, 

Mr.  30,  '65, 

Mr.  6,  '65, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

Unike  C.  Mackey, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Oct.  11/61, 

Missing  since  Apr.  30,  1862. 

William  Noble, 

Mr.  10,  '62, 

Mr.  10,  '62, 

Discharged  Nov.  15,  18(52. 

Leopold  Evert, 

Dec.23,'62, 

Nv.  15,  '62, 

Wtcd  to  Capt.  Apr.  17,  '63. 

John  McMann, 

Apl.  18/03, 

Mr.  6,  '63, 

Wted  to  Capt.  May  18,  '64. 

Edwin  Nichols, 

Ma.  18,  '64, 

\pl.  21/64. 

Pro'ted  to  Capt.  Nov.  19,  '64. 

Augustus  Newell, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Nv.  30,  '61, 

Wted  to  Capt.  Nov.  10,  '63. 

Fred.  Sandrock, 

Nv.  10,  '63, 

Ju.  20,  '63, 

flustered  out  Jan.  9,  1865. 

Charles  II.  Waite, 
William  Brown, 
Win.  Richardson, 

Mr.  30,  '65, 
Peb.  7,  '62, 
Jly.  4,  '63 

Mr.  6,  '65, 
Oct.  26/61, 
Ma.  25,  '63, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 
Pro'ted  to  Capt.  July  4,  '63. 
Jro'ted  to  Capt.  Apr.  14,  '64. 

Benj.  P.  Hughson, 
John  S.  Manning, 

Apr.14,'64, 
Mr.  30,  '65, 

Peb.  1,  '64, 
Mr.  6,  '65. 

Mustered  out  Jan.  28,  1865. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865, 

3has.  P.  Gardner, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Jan.  7,  '62, 

Wted  to  Capt.  Apr.  17,  '63. 

Horace  Baker, 
Michael  Priday, 

Apl.17,'63, 
Sep.  5,  '63, 

Jan.  13/63, 
Jly.  8,  '63, 

Mscharged  July  1,  1863. 
discharged  April  14,  1864, 

Kdward  L.  Cook, 

Nv.  19,  '64, 

Jly.  1,  '64, 

Jro'ted  to  Capt.  Jan.  20,  '65. 

ileury  W.  Conry, 

Tan.  20/65, 

Dec.  9,  '64, 

Wted  to  Capt.  May  31,  '65. 

Sam1!  S.  Kellogg, 

Peb.  7,  '62, 

Dec.  31/61, 

Killed  May  31,  1862. 

Timothy  Lynch, 
George  Furst, 

Dec.23/62, 
Sep.  5,  '63, 

Ma.  31,  '62, 
Ju.  12,  '63, 

Wted  to  Capt.  Sept.  5,  '63. 
)eclincd. 

Edward  S.  Peck, 

Oct.  7,  '63, 

Ju.  12,  '63, 

Wted  to  Adjt.  May  18,  '64. 

James  II.  French, 

Ma.  18,  '64, 

Vpl.  21/64, 

\ot  mustered  as  1st  Lieut. 

It.  B.  Smith,  Jr., 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

3ct.  29/61, 

Hissing  since  June  27,  1862. 

C.  E.  Walbridge, 

Dec.  10/62, 

Jly,  1,  '62, 

Wted  to  Capt.  Apr.  17,  '63. 

L.  13.  Howell, 
Javid  M.  White, 

Apl.  18/63, 
Nv.  19,  '64, 

Peb.  26,'  63, 
Sep.  30/64, 

)ischarged  Sept.  30,  1864. 
)eclined. 

Samuel  Ely, 

Jan.  20/65, 

Dec.  3,  '64, 

Wted  to  Capt.  May  31,  '65. 

^rank  C.  Brunck, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Nv.  4,  '61, 

Wted  to  Capt.  Nov.  24,  '62. 

Jhas.  C.  Coleman, 

Dec.  23/62, 

Nv.  16,  '62, 

Mseharged  Nov.  3,  1863. 

Sbeuezer  Spooner, 

Sep.  5,  '63, 

Jly.  2!),  '(«; 

discharged  Jan.  1,  1864. 

Wayne  Vogdea, 

Feb.27/64, 

Nv.  3,  '63, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

Bt.Cp.&Mj.N.Y.V. 

I.  Wilkeson,  Jr., 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Nv.  16,  '61, 

villed  May  31,  1862. 

Bvt.  Capt.  N.  Y.  V. 

War'n  (Granger.  Jr. 

Tu.  20,  '62, 

Ma.  31,  '62, 

Pro'ted  to  Capt.  Aug.  13,  '62. 

Chas.  P.  Scheffer, 

Ma.  13,  '63, 

Jly.  20,  '62. 

,Vsi-nod  July  28,  1863. 

Myron  P.  Pierson, 

Feb.27/64, 

Jan.  1,  '64, 

discharged  March  6,  1865. 

Albert  York, 

Nv.  19,  '64, 

Jly.  25,  '64, 

discharged  June  13,  1865. 

David  A.  Nevin, 

Jly.  31,  '65, 

Jly.  15,  '65, 

Bailed  to  muster. 

J.  E.  Head. 

Nv.  19,  '6-1, 

Sep.  2,  '65, 

Wted  to  Capt,  Mar.  30,  '60. 

Appendix. 


409 


Rank. 

Name. 

Date  of 
Com'sion. 

Date  of 
Rank. 

Remarks. 

1st  Lt. 

Henry  Heintz, 

Mr.  30,  '65, 

Mr.  6,  '65, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28.  1865. 

Henry  J.  Jones. 
C.  K.  Baker, 

Ma.  31,  '65, 
Oct.  3,  '64, 

Apl.  2,  '65, 
Oct.  3,  '64, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 
Pro'ted  to  Capt.  Nov.  19,  '64. 

Mansfield  Cornell, 

Nv.19,  '64, 

Nv.  5,  '64, 

Resigned  June  14,  1865. 

Chas.  H.  Traver, 

Jly.  31,  '65, 

Ju.  22,  '65, 

Bailed  to  muster. 

Joseph  Pratt, 

Ma.  31,  '65, 

Mr.  11,  '65, 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

William  Hackett, 

Ma.  31,  '65, 

Mr.  16,  '65, 

Bailed  to  muster. 

2dLt. 

Chas  S.  Farnham, 
Thomas  W.  Small, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 
Ju.  20,  '62, 

Jan.  1,  '62, 

Died  May  12,  1862. 
Discharged  Feb.  24,  1863. 

James  Ivavauaugh, 

Feb.  11.  '63. 

Jan.  2,  '63, 

Pro'ted  to  IstLt.  Apr.  17/63. 

C.  H.  Richmond, 

Apl.  18,'63, 

Feb.24.'63, 

Discharged  Nov.  3,  1863. 

Seth  W.  Babbitt, 

Jan.  30,'64, 

Jan.  28,  '63, 

Discharged  Jan.  14,  1865. 

Martin  S.  Bogart, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Jan.  3,  '62. 

Discharged  Sept.  12,  1862. 

William  H.  Wells, 

Oct.    1862, 

Oct.  10,'62, 

Discharged  Nov.  15,  1862. 

Chas.  H.  Rnnckle, 

Dec.20,'62, 

Nv.  15,  '62, 

Killed  Julv  18.  1863. 

James  H.  French, 

Oct.  7,  '63, 

Jly,  18.  '63, 

Died  May  22,  1864. 

S.  C.  Thompson, 

Ma.  18,  '64. 

Apl.  21,'64, 

[failed  to  muster. 

William  Noble, 

Feb.  7.  '62, 

Dec.19,'61, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Mar.  10/62. 

Louis  H.  Todd,        Mr.  1(X  '62. 

Mr.  10,  '62, 

Resigned  July  25,  1862. 

Leopold  Evert, 

Oct.  1,  '62, 

Jlv.  25,  '62. 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Dec.  23/62. 

John  McManu, 

Dec.23/62, 

Nv.  15,  '62, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Apr.  18/63. 

Michael  Friday, 

Apl.  18,'63, 

Mr.  6,  '63, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Sept.  5,  '63. 

J.  W.  Simpson, 

Feb.  7,  '62. 

Tan.  11,  '62, 

Resigned  Aug.  5,  1862. 

^eter  Greiner, 

Sep.  2,  '62. 

Sep.  2,  '62, 

Resigned  Nov.  17,  1862. 

L.  D.  Howell, 

Dec.23,'62. 

Nv.  14,  '62, 

Pro'  ted  to  IstLt.  Apr.  18/63. 

George  II.  Stowits, 

Apl.  18,'63, 

Feb.26,'63, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Oct.  7.  '63. 

Sdward  Pratt, 

Oct.  7.  '63, 

Jly.  18,  '63, 

Pro'ted  to  Capt.  Jan.  20,  '65. 

Timothy  Lynch, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Jan.  3,  '62, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt,  Dec.  23/22. 

Wm.  Richardson, 

Dec.23,'62. 

Ma.  31,  '62, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  July  4,  '63. 

Wayne  "Vogdes, 

Jly.  4,  '63, 

Ju.  12,  '  3, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt,  Feb.  27/64, 

Azor  H.  Hoyt, 

Feb.27,'64. 

Nv.  3,  '63, 

Died  May  16,  1864. 

Henry  Hermans, 

Nv.  19,  '64. 

Nv.  5,  '64, 

Resigned  May  16,  1865. 

3has.  E.  Claussen, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Oct.  26/61, 

Resigned  Sept.  9.  1862. 

Oct.  14,'62. 

Sep.  9,  '62, 

Discharged  March  3,  1863. 

George  Furst, 

Apl.  18/03. 

Apl.  17/63, 

Not  mustered. 

Jacob  L.  Barnes, 
Chas.  B.  Guthrie, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 
Sep.  8,  '62, 

Jan.  3,  '62, 
Sep.  8,  '62. 

Resigned  Aug.  9,  1862. 
Discharged  Nov.  14,  1862. 

Horace  Baker, 

Dec.23,'62, 

Nv.  14,  '62, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Apr.  17,  '63. 

J.  B.  Adriance, 

Apl.  17,'63, 

Jan.  13/63. 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Sept.  5,  '63. 

Fred.  Sandrock, 

Sep.  5,  '63, 

Au.  6,  '63, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Nov.  10/63. 

C.  E.  Walbridge, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Jan.  3,  '62. 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Dec.  10,  '62. 

Cyrus  Brown, 

Dec.23,'62, 

Oct.  1,  '62, 

Died  Aug.  13,  1863. 

William  Evans, 

Oct.  7,  '63, 

Au.  13,  '63, 

Discharged  Jan.  26,  1865. 

H.  H.  Haddock, 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Jan.  7,  '62, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt,  and  Adjt. 

Nov.  24,  1862. 

Edward  S.  Peck, 

Nv.  24,  '62, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Oct.  7,  '63. 

Mvron  P.  Pierson, 

Oct.  7,  '63, 

Ju.  12,  '63, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Feb.  27/64. 

W.  C.  Barthauer, 

Mr.  2,  '64, 

Jan.  1,  '64, 

Disch'd  as  private  May  9/65. 

Warn  Granger,  Jr. 

Feb.  7,  '62, 

Jan.  3.  '62, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  June  20/62. 

Charles  Sheffer, 

Ju.  24.  '62. 

Ma.  31,  '62 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  May  13/62, 

Chas.  C.  Coleman,  |Sep.  8,  '62, 

Sep.  8,  '62 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Dec.  22/62. 

William  Bonsell,     |Dec.  23/62 

Nv.  15,  '62 

Discharged  July  31,  1863. 

Edwin  Nichols, 

Sep.  5,  '63 

Au.  1,  '63 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  May  18/64. 

Edward  L.  Cook, 

Ma.  18,  '64 

Apl.  21/64 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Nov.  19/64. 

Samuel  Ely, 

Nv.  19,  '64 

Nv.  5,  '64 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt.  Jan.  20/65, 

Patrick  Connelly, 

Dec.  7,  '64, 

Nv.  5,  '64 

Pro'ted  to  Capt.  Mar.  30,  '65. 

Beuj.  F.  Hughson, 
Geo.  G.  Barnum, 

Oct.  7,  '63, 
Apl,14,'64 

Jly.  8,  '63 
Feb.  1,  '64 

Pro'ted  to  IstLt.  Apr.  14,  '64. 
Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt,  and  Qr'mr. 

Oct.  3,  1864. 

Charles  Skeldon, 

Nv.  19,  '64 

Nv.  5,  '64 

Mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1865. 

Mvers  T.  Webb, 

Jly.  31,  '65 

Ju.  22,  '65 

Failed  to  muster. 

Gilbert  Gaum, 

Nv.  10,  '65, 

Ju.  20,  '63 

Mustered  out  Jan.  9,  1865. 

Frank  Casey, 

Ma.  31,  '65,1  Mr.  11,  '65, 

Failed  to  muster. 

Joseph  Pratt, 

Mr.  30,  '65,IDec.lO,'64, 

Pro'ted  to  1st  Lt,  Mav  31/65. 

Peter  Kellv. 

Ma.  31.  '65.  Mr.  11.  '65.  Mustered  out  Au<r.  28.  1865. 

18 

410  Appendix. 


MUSTEK  IS"  ROLL 


ONE  HUNDREDTH  REGIMENT. 


FIELD  AND  STAFF  OFFICERS. 

James  M.  Brown,  Col.  Saml.  M.  Chamberlain,  Qr.  M. 

Phineas  Staunton,  Lieut.  Col.  Martin  S.  Kittenger,  Surg. 

Calvin  N.  Otis,  Maj.  Wm.  D.  Murray,  Asst.  Surg. 

Peter  Remsen  Chad  wick,  Adjt.  Frank  T.  Cork,  Hosp.  Steward. 


COMPANY  "  A." 

OFFICERS. 

Danl.  D.  Nash,  Capt.  Byron  Bristol,  Serg. 

Wm.  L.  Mayo,  First  Lieut.  Chas.  B.  Kellogg,  Corp. 

Chas.  Farnham,  Second  Lieut.  Thos.  M.  Allen,  Corp. 

Horace  Baker,  First  Serg.  Myron  Pingry,  Corp. 

Carlos  H.  Richmond,  Serg.  Chas.  H.  Flanders,  Corp. 

Thos.  W.  Small,  Serg.  J.  S.  Bibbens,  Corp. 
Clark  C.  Dickerman,  Corp. 


Arnold,  Francis  L. 
Arnold,  Nathan  J. 
Arnold,  George 
Ahern,  Patrick 
Anderson,  James 

PRIVATES. 

Ballou,  Herbert 
Bishop,  George 
Buchoult,  John 
Campbell,  John  M. 
Carpenter,  Wm.  B. 

Cortum,  Henry 
Clark,  Wm. 
Coon,  Henry 
Day,  Henry 
Dillion,  Thos. 

Appendix. 


411 


Drewry,  Ebenezer 
Dallany,  John 
Evans,  Matthew 
Fisk,  Hiram  M. 
Friedman,  Jacob 
Fagan,  Francis 
Gibson,  Ed.  G. 
Goodman,  Henry  S. 
Georgen,  Nicholas 
Gates,  Emerson 
Gaylord,  James  L. 
Gemmell,  Sandy 
Galligher,  James 
Grabbet,  John 
Graber,  Andrew 
Hicks,  Daniel 
Hill,  Uriah  F. 
Hann,  Frederick 
King,  Chauncey 
Kelley,  Peter 


Lincoln,  Marion 
Lynde,  Uriah  S. 
Lane,  Wm.  H. 
Murry,  Michael 
Merrifield,  Roswell 
McGlochlin,  Thos. 
Minton,  Wm. 
Moore,  John  A. 
Mentz,  Phillip 
McM alien,  Barney 
Oatman,  Jacob 
Pettit,  Stephen  M. 
Parker,  Jas.  W. 
Patterson,  Alex. 
Pettit,  Wm.  H. 
Quackenbush,  S.  J. 
Quackenbush,  Clark 
Rasterford,  John 
Roller,  John 
Richard,  Ferdinand 


Snider,  LeGrand 
Snyder,  Eziekiel 
Streit,  Nicholas 
Spooner,  Ebenezer 
Smith,  Frank 
Sill,  Wm.  H. 
Steddon,  Danl.  H. 
Sweet,  Thos.  C. 
Simonds,  Juston  F. 
Starks,  John  D. 
Starkweather,  W. 
Shirbel,  Christopher. 
Traver,  Edwin 
Whaley,  George 
White,  Theodore 
Wiser,  Sylvester 
Wiser,  Phillip 
Watson,  Thos.  M. 
Waterman,  Glading. 


COMPANY  "B." 

OFFICERS. 

Walter  B.  Moore,  Capt  Wm.  Whaler,  Corp. 

M.  H.  Topping,  First  Lieut.          Wm.  M.  Thomson,  Corp. 

Martin  S.  Bogart,  Second  Lieut.  Donald  McPherson,  Corp. 

Rodney  Dexter,  First  Serg.  Norman  H.  Meldrum,  Corp. 

Leonard  D.  Howell,  Serg. 

Edward  S.  Peck,  Serg. 

Feabody  Pratt,  Serg. 


Myron  B.  Pierson,  Serg. 


John  C.  Davis,  Corp. 
Milo  L.  Olmstead,  Corp. 
Josh.  O.  Price,  Musician, 
Samuel  Malters,  Musician, 


Willard  Josslyn,  Wagoner. 


Austin,  Irvin 
Brears,  Robert 
Boyd,  Edward  E. 
Bain,  Benjamin 
Bolton,  Henry  C. 


PRIVATES. 

Benjamin,  Geo.  N. 
Clough,  Charles 
Crosby,  Wm.  N. 
Cooley,  Edward  P. 
Coon,  Benjamin  C. 


Copeland,  Henry  C. 
Daniels,  Mortimer  L. 
Dato,  Fritz 
Davis,  Orel  M. 
Delamater,  L.  M. 


Appendix. 


Eberhart,  Geo. 
Edgarton,  Jacob 
Foics,  Geo.  C. 
Fox,  James 
Foot,  Charles  D. 
French,  Win.  H. 
Growney,  Barney 
Geer,  Theodore  O. 
Golland,  John 
Geize,  Phillip 
Harkins,  Henry  M. 
Howell,  Albert 
Jordan,  John 
Lynd,  Andrew 
McCall,  John  J. 
Moore,  George 
McMullcn,  Timothy 
Maud,  Joseph 


Meldrum,  Gordon  B. 
McPhail,  John 
McCann,  Thos. 
Mclntyre,  Daniel 
Meyrer,  Chas. 
McPherson,  James 
Moore,  Mather, 
Newton,  Win. 
Olmsted,  Win. 
Ott,  John  B. 
Pervorce,  Albert  J. 
Pierson,  Jos.  P. 
Presbry,  John  C. 
Russell,  Albert 
Robinson,  Hiram 
Ryan,  Phillip 
Swift,  Wm.  P. 
Swarthout,  Jas.  V. 


Seeley,  Win. 
Swift,  Chester  F. 
Swift,  George 
Treehouse,  Peter 
Trimball,  Robert 
Taylor,  Lyman 
Thompson,  S.  C. 
Tracy,  Peter 
Todd,  Louis  H. 
Walkley,  Stephen 
Weller,  Augustus  P. 
Wicks,  John  G. 
Wood,  Abram  L. 
Winkle,  Matthias 
Ward,  Albert  U. 
Walker,  James. 


COMPANY  "  C." 

OFFICERS. 


John  Nicholson,  Capt. 
U.  C.  Mackay,  First  Lieut. 
Wm.  Noble,  Second  Lieut. 
Leopold  Evert,  First  Serg. 
Cyrus  Brown,  Serg. 
Win.  H.  Hamilton,  Serg. 
Wm.  A.  Moss,  Serg. 
Oliver  Wolven,  Serg. 
Win.  Evans,  Corp. 


Ezra  N.  Hoag,  Corp. 
Wm.  H.  Adams,  Corp. 
Joseph  Jenkins,  Corp. 
Benjamin  F.  Ilughson,  Corp. 
Albert  Cross,  Corp. 
Edwin  Nichols,  Corp. 
Quincy  A.  Seibold,  Corp. 
Richard  Carr,  Musician, 
Sidney  A.  Lake,  Musician. 


Allen,  Geo.  W. 
Austin,  Charles 
Barnard,  Wm. 
Barnhart,  Jacob  D. 
Bass,  Adelbert 
Beherens,  Henry 
Berg,  Carl 


PRIVATES. 

Brock,  Geo.  II. 
Buckner,  David 
Burton,  Isaac  S. 
Calahan,  Lawrence 
Calahan,  Michael 
Campbell,  Daniel 
Carney,  Volney 


Carpenter,  Walston 
Carr,  Wm. 
Conley,  Patrick 
Corcoran,  Patrick 
Coughlin,  Timothy 
Daly,  John 
Derry,  Nicholas 


Appendix. 


Derring,  Casper 
Donnelly,  Charles 
Dressing,  Henry 
Dugan,  John 
Fuller,  Ezekiah  S. 
Gage,  Wm. 
Gordinier,  Edwin 
Griffin,  Patrick 
Hawkins,  N.  T. 
fleather,  Wm. 
Higgins,  Thomas 
Hoag,  Hiram  N. 
Hookway,  John 
Ilousell,  Alexander 
Hunt,  Edwin 
Johnson,  Jacob 
Kissock,  Wm. 


Lafontaine,  Paul 
Lampson,  Zebulon 
Litt,  Conrad 
Lown,  Franklin 
MacBean,  Charles 
MacGregor,  Donald 
MacGuire,  Michael 
MacKeever,  James 
MacKenny,  J.  B. 
MacMann,  John 
Maroney,  Michael  H. 
Miller,  Rich 
Mitchel,  Fad 
Mitchel,  Philip 
Morgan,  Chas.  W. 
Olney,  Wm.  F. 
Ostrander,  Obert  G. 


Pendleton,  Thoa.  N. 
Phillips,  Patrick 
Randall,  Wilson 
Reardan,  Charles 
Scanlon,  Thomas 
Scott,  Patrick 
Starr,  Charles  H. 
Swift,  Hiram  A. 
Tann,  Edward 
Watson,  John 
Wells,  Chester 
Whipple,  E.  L. 
William,  George  C. 
Williams,  John  II. 
Winegard,  A.  I. 


COMPANY  "D." 

OFFICERS. 

Lewis  S.  Payne,  Capt,  John  Castle,  Musician, 

Augustus  Newell  First  Lieut,      Wm.  Hay,  Jr.,  Wagoner. 
(Eemaining  officers  not  selected  at  date  of  filing  roll.) 


Ackley,  Ithamer 
Atkinson,  John  R. 
Allair,  Mitchell 
Allen,  Nathan  F. 
Allen,  Lyman  S. 
Anslej^  James 
Bailey,  Wm.  J. 
Batch,  Charles 
Becker,  Myron 
Brook  man,  John  G. 
Bates,  Walter  C. 
Bigsby,  Andrew  E. 
Bates,  Wheelock  T. 
Berrvman,  James 
18* 


PRIVATES. 

Brown,  Lewis 
Burgwardt,  Christian 
Brooks,  Richard 
Cavernno,  John 
Daniels,  Louis 
Dorn,  Newton 
Deermers,  Philip 
Dixon,  Wm. 
Desselberger,  John 
Ewart,  James 
Enright,  Michael 
Flannery,  F.  F. 
Fip,  Valentine 
Fay,  Francis 


Gillis,  James  G. 
Gaum,  Gilbert 
Gaum,  Anthony 
Goodman,  John 
Galligher,  Henry 
Gosline,  Henry 
Hagen,  Charles 
Huff,  Wm. 
Hidell,  Henry 
Jones,  Robert 
Klein,  Philip 
Keller,  Lawrence 
Keller,  Henry 
Knobel,  Frederick 


414 


Appendix. 


Louusbary,  Win.  K. 
Longley,  John  W. 
Leonard,  Francis 
Longer,  Joseph 
Leonard,  Charles 
Lightmire,  Jacob 
Luthso,  Henry 
Marling,  Thomas 
Meitzinger,  Henry 
Monteath,  John 
Martin,  Geo.  H. 
Miller,  Henrick 
McCafferty,  Wesley 
McCafferty,  John  F. 
Metzdorff,  Charles 


Newman,  Geo. 
Pfalegraf,  Jacob 
Pendergrass,  James 
Runclell,  Daniel  W. 
Richardson,  Wm. 
Rappleyea,  David 
Ryan,  Michael 
Reifstick,  Frederick 
Sclmltz,  Henry 
Simson,  Jas.  W. 
Scott,  Winiicld  B. 
Stormes,  George  II. 
Snyder,  Gilbert  V. 
Shelbeck,  Casper 
Sherman,  Ransom 


Schully,  Thomas 
Schopp,  Jacob 
Striker,  William  H. 
Saco,  John 
Shlotman,  Frederick 
Smith,  Wm. 
Smith,  Wm.  F. 
Torney,  Lawrence 
Whitmore,  Charles 
White,  John  F. 
Wilkens,  Willett  P. 
Williams,  David  W. 
Wolfe,  John  H. 
Wickes,  Henry 
Yahr,  Win.- 


COMPANY  "E.' 


OFFICERS. 


Michael  Bailey,  Capt. 
Wm.  Brown,  First  Lieut. 
Timothy  Lynch,  Second  Lieut. 
Jas.  Kavanagh,  First  Serg. 
Bernard  Smith,  Serg. 
Patrick  Lynch,  Serg. 
Thomas  Delaney,  Serg. 
Edward  Johnson,  Serg. 
Edward  J.  Marsh,  Corp. 


Wesley  G.  Sheldon,  Corp. 
Michael  Fahey,  Corp. 
Daniel  Brice,  Corp. 
Charles  Pettis,  Corp. 
Patrick  Carrol,  Corp. 
Willard  D.  Smith,  Corp. 
John  Allen,  Corp. 
John  Lord,  Musician, 
James  Kilfry,  Musician, 


Anderson,  Andrew 
Armstrong,  Charles 
Armstrong,  John 
Benz,  Frederick 
Brown,  John 
Barns,  John 
Boden,  James 
Brice,  Neal 
Burges,  Samuel 


Win.  Bradley,  Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 
Bixby,  Theodore 
Cooney,  John 
Cassady,  Luke 
Charlson,  Jonas 
Debriuk,  John  H. 
Donohoe,  John 
Dalaney,  John 
Dashbro,  John 
Davis,  Jack 


Dunbar,  James 
Frank,  C.  P. 
Goodenow,  Joseph 
Grand,  Henry 
Grameler,  John 
Geror,  Joseph 
Hayes,  Edward 
Houold,  George 
Henderson,  Henry 


Hook,  John 
Harshept,  Leonard 
Harrokl,  Paul 
Ilommeorlear,  P.  P. 
Hurlburt,  Simon  B. 
Hunt,  Oscar  M. 
Halligan,  John 
Jonas,  Daniel 
Jackson,  John 
Killien,  Peter 
Kane,  Patrick 
Loman,  Gerret 
Leversey,  Lester 


Appendix. 

Little,  Thomas 
Manion,  Thomas 
Mann,  Frederick 
Mills,  Samuel 
McDougal,  James 
Martin,  Charles 
Patrick,  Robert 
Phillips,  Ernst 
Potter,  Gilbert  S. 
Post,  Norman 
Root,  Charles 
Rankle,  Lawrence 
Slattery,  Edward 


415 


Siebert,  Jacob 
Smith,  Sirus 
Schunman,  Philip 
Seaton,  Philip 
Steel,  William 
Smith,  Wilber  S. 
Weighend,  Geo.  H. 
Wade,  John 
Walsh,  John 
Watkins,  John 
Winter,  Andrus 
Zimmerman,  Henry. 


COMPANY  "F." 

OFFICERS. 

Charles  H.  Rauert,  Capt, 
Chas.  F.  Gardner,  First  Lieut. 
C.  E.  Claussen,  Second  Lieut. 
Win.  Meyers,  First  Serg. 
A.  C.  M." Wilting,  Serg. 
Michael  Friday,  Serg. 
Seymour  F.  Phelps,  Serg. 
Edgar  Flemming,  Serg. 
Daniel  Herwell,  Corp. 


George  A.  Adams,  Corp. 
Henry  Heintz,  Corp. 
Calvin  P.  Janson,  Corp. 
John  L.  Schlegel,  Corp. 
August  Giebler,  Corp. 
John  M.  Edson,  Corp. 
John  G.  Heintz,  Corp. 
George  Benzino,  Drummer, 
Henry  Knodel,  Fifer. 


Albersdorfer,  Joseph 
Alexander,  Jacob 
Aldrich,  Frank 
Becker,  Wm. 
Barlow,  Robert 
Bernhardt,  Henry 
Block,  John  George 
Brown,  Gottlieb 
Brentner,  Nicolaus 
Bromler,  Wm. 
Banner,  John 
Critz,  Johann  T. 


PRIVATES. 

Carley,  David 
Demhuth,  Ullrich 
Draper,  Orville  O. 
Eismann,  Felix 
Fischbach,  B. 
Franke,  Edward 
Fox,  Hartmann 
Gates,  John 
Gattie,  Anthony 
Gattie,  Charles, 
Geurnie,  Mathias 
Gamin,  C.  A. 


Gamin,  John  D. 
Hoag,  Joseph 
Hayes,  Henry 
Hartman,  Friedrich 
Huber,  Martin 
Harrison,  Andrew 
Hurd,  John  M. 
Kemper,  Friedrich 
Kimmerliug,  C. 
Kohler,  Jacob 
Kappler,  Louis 
Lindow,  Fritz 


Leupold,  August 
Lower,  Jacob  H. 
Main,  Frederick  F. 
Marshall,  John 
Mangoldt,  John 
Merz,  Andrew 
Muenckin,  Franz 
Palmitor,  David 
Pauly,  Daniel 
Penth,  Rudolph 
Ragin,  Joseph 
Rebsamen,  Henry 


Riegcr,  John 
Rocksch,  E.  A.  V. 
Reinhardt,  J.  G.  A. 
Ructcs,  Louis 
Ryer,  Henry 
Shank,  Henry 
Schick,  Adolph 
Sliupp,  Louis 
Schlichtmann,  J.  II. 
Schuler,  Philip 
Staudt,  Anton 
Staudter,  Louis 


Steigleder,  Henry 
Stephen,  Peter 
Strickland,  Edgar 
Schiddel,  Stcphan 
Usborne,  Edward 
Usher,  Charles 
Volck,  Peter 
Wahl,  Charles  A. 
Wendelip,  Louis 
Wolfer,  Lorenz 
Younglove,  R.  W. 
Zahn,  Henry. 


COMPANY  "  G." 

OFFICERS. 

George  Ilinson,  Capt.  Samuel  C.  Hixon,  Serg. 

Samuel  S.  Kellogg,  First  Lieut.  Edwin  M.  Brown,  Corp. 

Jacob  L.  Barnes,  Second  Lieut.  William  Straight,  Corp. 

Timothy  Linahan,  First  Serg.  James  G.  Bennett,  Corp. 

Sharp  Adams,  Serg.  Joseph  Webb,  Corp. 

Benjamin  Stafford,  Serg.  Patrick  Miller,  Musician, 
Frank  Hummel,  Musician. 


Auld,  Robert 
Brazill,  Michael 
Broadbent,  Benj. 
Barnum,  Charles  L. 
Benton,  Donald 
Bridenbecker,  Geo. 
Betts,  James  H. 
Baker,  Nichols 
Brown,  Win.  E. 
Baldwin,  Hiram  G. 
Bennett,  Ira 
Briscoe,  Edward 
Barton,  William 
Becker,  Henry 
Burgheggar,  Henry 


PRIVATES. 
Birmingham,  David 
Bain,  William 
Brown,  Charles 
Bailey,  James  P. 
Bcrryman,  Alex. 
Camp,  William 
Carco,  Frederick 
Clark,  Luther 
Caffrey,  Francis 
Currie,  Archibald 
Devoe,  James  II. 
Dishel,  Michael 
Evans,  Frank 
Enright,  George 
Eddy,  John,  Jr. 


Freeman,  Ernst  II. 
Foreman,  Frederick 
Funday,  Charles  H. 
Foster,  William  F. 
Gibbons,  James 
Goodrich,  Augustus 
Gordon,  John 
Guidcl,  Herman 
Halster,  Barney 
Ilawley,  John 
Hilland,  John 
Hunt,  George 
Haines,  Erastus 
Herr,  Edmund  B. 
Hull,  Georsje 


Appendix. 


417 


Jones,  John 
Jones,  W.  Griffith 
Kirk,  Robert 
Kramer,  Louis 
Kane,  Thomas 
Kroffman,  John  J. 
Leonard,  George 
Laverly,  John 
Morgan,  George 
McDermott,  Barney 
Milhan,  James 
McGregor,  William 
Mathew,  Solomon 
Miller,  Sampson  L. 
McClintic,  Charles 
Noonan,  James 
O'Halloran,  Patrick 


Peligrin,  Eugene  N. 
Portwood,  Chas.  J. 
Palmer,  Alfred  H. 
Powley,  Joseph 
Quackenbush,  S. 
Riley,  John 
Ray,  Alexander 
Root,  Calvin 
Richards,  Oscar  F. 
Ryan,  John,  Jr. 
Simmer,  Joseph 
Skinner,  Nelson 
Shults,  Wm.  H. 
Smith,  David  C. 
Snediker,  John 
Salisbury,  E.  A. 
Strickland,  Wm. 


Saxoier,  John 
Thuringer,  John  M. 
Taylor,  William 
Thompson,  Sandford 
Taff,  Merrit 
Turner,  Ira  O. 
Van  Hatton,  Martin 
Whitebread,  Leonard 
Willis,  William 
Weatherwax,  S. 
Wick,  Levi 
Weaver,  Charles  E. 
Whitney,  Lewis  A. 
Williams,  John 
Williams,  David 
Yenin,  John  W. 


COMPANY  "H." 

OFFICERS. 

Albert  Smith,  Corp. 


P.  Edwin  Dye,  Capt. 

R.  B.  Smith,  Jr.,  First  Lieut.        Reuben  Saxton,  Corp. 

C.  E.  Walbridge,  Second  Lieut.    Charles  H.  Dye,  Corp. 

Charles  Dye,  First  Serg. 

Albert  C.  Fuller,  Serg. 

Horace  Smith,  Serg. 

Fred.  A.  Thatcher,  Serg. 


S.  L.  Thatcher,  Corp. 
George  A.  S.  Kent,  Corp. 


Earl  Dye,  Corp. 
Merton  L.  Brown,  Corp. 
Peter  E.  LaFort,  Corp. 
Jefferson  P.  Weter,  Musician, 
John  Moissinac,  Musician, 
Frederick  Harnes,  Wagoner. 


Austin,  John 
Bishop,  Gardner  C. 
Blain,  John 
Briggs,  Ransom 
Booth,  George 
Briton,  Alonzo 
Brockway,  Alex.  N. 
Bishop,  William 


PRIVATES. 

Cole,  Asa 
Coleman,  John  C. 
Carr,  William 
Crowell,  Charles 
Cook,  John 
Cushman,  A.  P. 
Cole,  Thomas 
Crowell,  William  S. 


Coyle,  Erastus 
De  Forest,  Daniel 
Dangharthy,  O.  B. 
Dailey,  Jacob 
Dean,  William 
Drake,  Johiel 
Dye,  Lewis 
Daugharthy,  B.  G. 


418 


Appendix. 


Dugan,  Michael 
Dugan,  Barney 
Emery,  Curtis  J. 
Evertso,  Paul 
Fone,  William 
Fone,  Charles 
Germain,  Cliarles 
Germain,  George  F. 
Gerring,  Frederick 
Hills,  Hoel 
Harder,  Jacob 
Hull,  Elias  M. 
Hiles,  William 
Barker,  Jolin 


Kimball,  Job 
King,  Noah 
Lamphere,  James 
Manncy,  Michael 
Mitchell,  Robert 
Manley,  William 
Murray,  Hugh 
McGuire,  Owen 
Pomeroy,  Titus 
Putnam,  Hartley 
Patterson,  S.,  Jr. 
Rose,  Sylvester  W. 
Saxton,  James 
Sotle,  Izzard 


Stone,  Harry 
Skinkler,  Wm.  H. 
Sohm,  George 
Sharp,  John 
Stiver  Manuel 
Sharp,  Albert 
Tanner,  Edward  O. 
Thompson,  Joseph 
Wilcox,  Charles  T. 
Wilcox,  Daniel 
Wharton,  Thomas 
Wright,  William 
Weller,  Benj.  T. 
Whaples,  John  W. 


COMPANY  "I.' 


OFFICERS. 


Charles  E.  Morse,  Capt. 
Frank  C.  Brunck,  First  Lieut. 
H.  II.  Haddock,  Second  Lieut. 
Fred.  Sandrock,  First  Serg. 
Robert  L.  Hurst,  Serg. 
Cornelius  B.  Adriance,  Serg. 
Joseph  B.  Mason,  Serg. 
Walter  Keller,  Serg. 
Lester  P.  Stickney,  Corp. 


Chas.  F.  Taylor,  Corp. 
Patrick  Farrell,  Corp. 
John  S.  Schnuberger,  Corp. 
James  F.  Hale,  Corp. 
Hilton  A.  Hoyt,  Corp. 
David  Schoonmaker,  Corp. 
Thomas  R.  Boon,  Corp. 
Charles  Bartell,  Musician, 
Cliarles  Ottenot,  Musician, 


William  Merrisfield,  Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 

Adolph,  George 

Cronyn,  Cornelius 

Duncan,  Myron  N. 

Abraham,  Robert 

Cope,  Edward 

Dickson,  Joseph 

Bruckner,  Gustav 

Cannon,  John 

Dix,  Joseph 

Bengel,  John 

Capple,  Wallace 

Fitzpatrick,  Michael 

Blake,  George 

Charlesworth,  John 

Fairbanks,  James 

Byrnes,  Thomas 

Cartwright,  W. 

Grossman,  Frederick 

Bradley,  Merritt  E. 

Deurringer,  Appolus 

Green,  James 

Bennett,  James 

De  Molitor,  John 

Geyou,  Patrick 

Cavanagh,  William 

De  Greeney,  Charles 

Gibbons,  Thomas 

Coogan,  John 

Dreschel,  Agustus 

Guimen,  John 

Appendix. 


419 


Gilbert,  Lewis 
Harriman,  John 
Hounsomni,  James 
Henderson,  John 
Hegeman,  Thomas 
Hannah,  John 
Ittel,  John 
Julie,  Pierre 
Jones,  William  C. 
Kean,  John 
Ladds,  Henry  P. 
Linderman,  Edward 
Livingston,  Charles 
Lawrence,  James 
McGriggin,  James 


Morgan,  Philip 
Mawhiney,  Joseph 
McLaine,  Anthony 
Minzer,  Frederick 
McTavish,  Robert 
Magee,  Benjamin 
Moriety,  Daniel 
Miller,  Henry 
Naylon,  Thomas 
Nealon,  Dennis 
Orth,  Felix 
O'Brien,  Edward 
Parr,  Thomas 
Parker,  George 
Poppenberg,  F. 


Philipp,  Lorenz 
Riter,  Philip  J. 
Riker,  George  N. 
Sullivan,  Jerry 
Sharrick,  Millard  M. 
Shea,  Andrew 
Strong,  Martin 
Smith,  Alexander 
Skinner,  Frederick 
Scrafford,  Charles  K 
Tompkins,  William 
Thomas,  Augustus 
Trist,  Edward 
Wood,  Marcus 
AVagner,  Adam. 


COMPANY  "K." 

OFFICERS. 

Charles  H.  Henshaw,  Capt.          Oliver  B.  Bond,  Corp. 
John  Wilkeson,  Jr.,  First  Lieut.  John  Crane,  Corp. 
W.  Granger,  Jr.,  Second  Lieut,    John  Gibson,  Corp. 
Charles  F.  Sheffer,  First  Serg. 
William  H.  Baker,  Serg. 
Edward  Pratt,  Serg. 
Lewis  Bufforn,  Serg. 
Pius  Schumaker,  Serg. 
George  Proeger,  Corp. 


John  Pearson,  Corp. 
James  Shepherd,  Corp. 
William  H.  Stacy,  Corp. 
Martin  G.  Langgath,  Corp. 
George  W.  Cooley,  Musician, 
Fayette  Baker,  Musician, 


Charles  E.  Barrow,  Wagoner. 


Adams,  Peter 
Abrahams,  Robert  J. 
Allen,  James 
Baker,  Madison  C. 
Barkell,  Anthony 
Buffom,  Thomas  J. 
Brown,  John 
Brown,  Bernard 
Brower,  William 


PRIVATES. 
Boyd,  John 
Bohmert,  George 
Clouse,  George 
Carroll,  William  C. 
Cheney,  Walter 
Coons,  Henry 
Dreres,  Frederick 
Davy,  Frank 
Eddy,  Charles  D. 


Eddy,  Stephen  C. 
Eaton,  Melvin 
Fryniiller,  Phillip 
Flint,  William  S. 
Gobar,  John 
Hoye,  William 
Hitchcock,  P.  H. 
Holmes,  Herrick 
HeushawT,  Henry  C. 


420 


Appendix. 


Hewitt,  Cyrus  J. 
Jacoy,  Charles 
Jones,  George 
Kelley,  Daniel  J. 
Lamb,  John 
Moore,  Reuben 
Miller,  Nelson 
Miller,  Edward  W. 
Moneghan,  Peter 
Moore,  Orlando  L. 
Myers,  Marks  II. 
Matthews,  William 
McAlpen,  Michael 


Maloy,  Thomas 
Newland,  George 
Phelps,  Rual 
Phelps,  Josiah 
Rus,  George 
Reid,  James 
Ryan,  Patrick 
Rounsfell,  James 
Smith,  Asa  B. 
Shepherd,  Charles 
Slmltenburgh,  John 
Sloan,  Peter 
Schliphoger,  Henry 


Sheldon,  Joshua 
Tingus,  Albert  II. 
Tanner,  Lanson  G. 
Trevathan,  John 
Van  Horn,  George 
Wichsel,  Michael 
Wrankle,  Nelson 
Werner,  Michael 
Wilhclm,  Jacob 
Ward,  James 
Wightman,  Benjamin 
Whitman,  Joseph 
Westtield,  Cornelius. 


Appendix. 


421 


LIST  OF  ISTAMES 


RECRUITED  BY 


THE  BOARD  OF  TRADE 


FROM  AUGUST  1, 1802,  TO  OCTOBER  1, 1SG2. 


Anderson,  Andrew 
Anderson,  Charles 
Allen,  James 
Bale,  John  G. 
Barker,  Peter 
Barker,  John 
Berle,  Gaspare 
Bos,  William 
Bennett,  Elijah 
Blanco,  George 
Blanchard,  Luther 
Barnum,  George  G. 
Burtice,  Richard 
Bilhofer,  Lewis 
Bahrins,  Christian 
Bagley,  James 
Baker,  John 
Ball,  George  H. 
Ball,  Andrew 
Bamenan,  C. 
Barnum,  James  G. 
19 


Bartram,  George 
Barthauer,  Win.  C. 
Baumler,  Henry 
Betz,  Mathew 
Billington,  John  S. 
Birch,  Thomas 
Blauvelt,  Wm.  E. 
Bo  wen,  Benjamin 
Brenchley,  H.  S. 
Britting,  George 
Broker,  Joseph 
Brown,  William  P. 
Burback,  Jacob 
Burger,  Frank 
Burke,  Michael 
Bluck,  Frederick 
Bull,  Alonzo 
Chiles,  Henry 
Casey,  Frank 
Coster,  Fred.  L. 
Coleman,  Daniel 


Cook,  James 
Garnish,  Daniel 
Chamberlain,  Asell  R. 
Crothers,  Edward  E. 
Coppell,  Frederick 
Chasselett,  Alex. 
Conry,  Henry  W. 
Cook,  Edward  L. 
Clark,  George  N. 
Cannon,  Thomas  C. 
Cornell,  Mansfield 
Carly,  Thomas 
Chase,  William 
Cunningham,  Win. 
Con,  William 
Clennut,  Francis 
Clark,  Willard 
Driggs,  Anson  T. 
Davies,  Philo 
Dick,  James  A. 
Donahue,  John 


422 

Dill,  John 
Davis,  Henry 
Dreyer,  August 
Daniels,  Peter 
DeGraff,  Harvey  F. 
Downing,  F.  A. 
Davy,  James 
Deleon,  Charles  M. 
Daylton,  Charles 
Dodsworth,  James 
Ellis,  Hiram 
Eggert,  William 
Ellsworth,  Henry  C. 
Ely,  Jr.,  Samuel 
Ebben,  Ellis 
Eggleston,  C.  H. 
Eiglimc,  George  IT. 
Flint,  George 
French,  James  II. 
Farke,  August 
Fagen,  Matheas 
Furthmiller,  Wm. 
Feger,  John  G. 
Farley,  Bernard 
Gilroy,  Francis 
Gilmor,  James 
Gleeson,  John 

Gotz,  Andrew 

Gost,  Frederick 

Gester,  Charles 

Gooden,  George 

Gauchat,  Ami 

Galach,  Philip 

Goff,  William 

Grant,  John 

Godfrey,  Rodman  T. 

Gardiner,  James  II. 

Gascorgne,  F.  R. 

Goodfellow,  John 

Haas,  Charles 


Appendix. 

Hofmann,  Philip 
Hunt,  Charles 
Hunt,  Martin  N. 
Ilubbell,  Dennis  A. 
Hunt,  Henry 
Hieman,  Joseph 
Heamans,  Joseph  A. 
Iliemans,  Henry 
Hoetzeleiss,  J.  G. 
Hanley,  John 
Handlist,  John  B. 
Hall,  Albert  A. 
Hoffelt,  Michael 
Hillburner,  C. 
Hoover,  Joseph 
Hay  den,  William  P. 
Harrar,  Paul 
Hushold,  Jacob 
Holtslander,  E.  B. 
Hard,  John 
Husted,  Frank  H. 
Hughes,  Richard 
Henry,  William 
Hcinbrunn,  Philip 
Hicks,  William  H. 
Hinderir,  Frederick 
Heston,  Charles  T. 
Hascall,  Jasper 
Hoffman,  George 
Ilauchanhin,  Max 
Ilerlan,  John  J. 
Ilerrin,  William 
Hart,  William  J. 
Hartley,  William 
Healey,  Michael 
Henderson,  Robert 
Head,  Jonathan  E. 
Isdell,  George  W. 
Jastin,  Hamblet 
Jangraw,  Nicholas 


Jones,  Henry  J. 
Johnson,  Mathew 
Jensen,  Christian 
Judson,  Billa  M. 
Karn,  Adam,  Jr. 
Kratz,  Joseph 
Karney,  Alexander 
Kneller,  Frank  C. 
Kress,  George 
Kirsch,  David 
Kirsch,  Adam 
Kleeberg,  John  L. 
Kane,  John 
Kelley,  Lafayette 
Koiff,  George 
Kilhofer,  John 
Kauferman,  George 
Knoller,  Lawrence 
Krauss,  Henry 
Latten,  Anson 
Lewis,  James 
Lindsey,  Charles 
Lanenberger,  John 
Lotz,  Charles 
Larkin,  Major  C. 
Lapoint,  Clofar 
Lansing,  Henry  G. 
Lang,  George 
Leonard,  Peter 
Langmyer,  John 
Leonard,  John 
Lattelberg,  William 
Lythe,  Alfred 
Lawrence,  Wm. 
Linder,  Andrew 
Manhar,  Thomas 
Mossop,  Isaac  T. 
McGregor,  Wm.  J, 
McCatchrine,  John 
McGraugh,  Peter 


Mattarn,  George 
Mason,  George 
McDonald,  John 
Miller,  Christian 
Mensch,  Willliam 
Menner,  Christian 
Mason,  William  II. 
Mason,  George 
Mitchell,  William 
Montgomery,  J.  S. 
Miller,  Joseph 
Mathews,  William 
Manning,  John  S. 
Morey,  Andrew 
Miller,  John  W. 
Meier,  Christain 
Mowat,  Daniel 
McKay,  Donald  D. 
McGraw,  Patrick 
Montague,  George 
Matthew,  Henry 
Miller,  Robert 
Molter,  Jacob 
McBride,  Thomas 
Newberry,  William 
Newell,  George  W. 
Neabergle,  Jacob 
Norgel  Michael, 
Newland,  Austin 
Noeller,  Fred.  A. 
O'Connor,  Roderick 
Ostrander,  P.  V.  L. 
Otto,  Charles  L. 
Olnies,  Frederick 
Pelo,  Robert  H. 
Putnam,  Henry  W. 
Putnam,  John 
Partridge,  E.  E. 
Partridge,  Fred.  S. 
Piper,  Newton 


Appendix. 

Pickering,  William 

Page,  Thomas 

Paugburn,  E.  S. 

Philips,  Wm.  M. 

Parker,  Warren  J. 

Pixley,  Gustavus  J. 

Payne,  William 

Peters,  Carl 

Quigley,  Thomas 

Quill,  Simon 

Riley,  John 

Roth,  Peter 

Runkle,  Chas.  H. 

Rice,  James 

Russell,  Thomas 

Ragan,  John 

Redshaw,  James 

Robins,  Francis  E. 

Roats,  Henry 

Rider,  George 

Rayner,  Thomas 
Ritzert,  Philip 
Hollo,  William 
Rose,  Raynham 
Rose,  Spencer 
Rowe,  George 
Ruth,  Anthony 
Schrenk,  Jacob 
Schafer,  Frederick 
Schanzlin,  Jacob  F. 
Schnellar,  Frederick 
Shaner,  Nicholas 
Sheldon,  William 
Shoop,  Edward 
Sizer,  Merit  A. 
Skeldon,  John  E. 
Schagime,  Peter 
Shlar,  Harmon 
Stoddard,  Geo.  N. 
Sawmitzer,  John 


423 

Sheehan,  Michael 
Sibley,  Richard 
Se}Tmour,  Frank 
Staring,  Stephen 
Schaup,  Henry 
Stowell,  Wm. 
Schlencker,  George 
Schafer,  Karl 
Schwartz,  John  G. 
Stains,  John  D. 
Staley,  Christopher 
Sabert,  Pauline 
Stowits,  George  II. 
Sinsheimer,  Joseph 
Stowell,  Ralph  P. 
Stintman,  John 
Skeldon,  Charles 
Skinner,  Julius  F. 
Smallshaw,  T.  W. 
Smith,  Nicholas 
Sticking,  Jerome  J. 
Stofield,  Frederick 
Stewart,  Sheldon 
Swab,  John 
Sweeney,  Owen 
Summers,  William 
True,  Ransum  B. 
Town  send,  Edward 
Thompson,  Henry 
Teabrier,  Michael 
Trink,  George 
Thompson,  David 
Tombers,  Albert 
Teterling,  William 
Towns,  Oscar 
Turner,  Clemens 
Taylor,  William 
Till,  Edward 
Trautman,  Fred; 
Ulrich,  Philip 


424 


Appendix. 


Urban,  Jacob 
Underbill,  Delos 
Voon,  Jobn  A. 
Valentine,  Spissinge 
Van  Bur  en,  A.  J. 
Webb,  George  J. 
Welsh,  Richard 
Williamson,  James 
Weeks,  Merrit 
Weise,  John  T. 
Wyner,  John  P. 
Welch,  Michael 
Waring,  W.  B. 
Winters,  Henry 


Whiting,  John  J. 
Williams,  Samuel 
Waite,  C.  II.  Jr. 
Waldron,  E.  C. 
Wurl,  Ernst 
Washington,  George 
Williams,  William 
Wilder,  Ebenezer 
Walcott,  John  C. 
Walls,  William  L. 
Woods,  James 
Whitbuck,  J.  P. 
Wyndham,  D.  II. 
Wagerle,  Charles 


Weaver,  Valentine 
Weaver,  Toney 
Wood,  Hiram  T. 
Warham,  John  B. 
White,  David 
Wiggins,  Robert 
Wulf,  John 
Williams,  Edwin  V. 
Weber,  Jacob 
Wilson,  Wellington 
Walltein  George 
Yerger,  John 
York,  Albert 
Young,  Philip. 


